European Parliament approves new rules for air passengers

The European Parliament has adopted amendments to European rules on air passenger rights, which maintain the existing right to compensation in the event of a flight delay of more than three hours, simplify the claim process and introduce new rules related to hand luggage, return tickets and family travel with children.

MEPs approved the changes by 646 votes to 12 with three abstentions, after a provisional agreement was reached with the Council of the European Union in conciliation. It is the first major change to the rules, which have been in place since 2004 and govern passengers' rights in the event of flight cancellations, denied boarding and long delays.

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The most important decision for travelers is retention of the right to financial compensation in case of a delay of more than three hours. Fees remain the same as before: 250 euros for flights up to 1.500 kilometers, 400 euros for flights within the EU longer than 1.500 kilometers and for other trips between 1.500 and 3.500 kilometers, or 600 euros for longer flights.

For the longest journeys, airlines will be able to reduce the compensation by 50 percent if they offer the passenger rerouting to their final destination, provided that the arrival delay does not exceed four hours.

The right to compensation remains even in case of flight cancellation within 14 days before departure or denied boarding, while carriers will be exempted from the obligation to pay when the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control. The new rules provide for a non-exhaustive list of such circumstances, including natural disasters, war, adverse weather conditions, passenger incidents and strikes by airport, air traffic control and ground handling service providers.

And when they are not responsible for the disorder, carriers will have to provide assistance to passengers while they waitThis includes refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours, and accommodation for up to three nights in the event of prolonged disruptions beyond the airline's control.

One of the more important changes relates to the compensation procedure itself. Passengers who choose refund they should receive compensation instead of redirection automaticIn the event of disruption, the carrier will have to clearly explain to the passenger how to apply for compensation, no later than four days after the end of the journey.

Passengers will not have to open an account or use a special application to submit a claim. The deadline for submitting a claim will be nine months, while airlines will have 30 days to pay the compensation or explain why they are citing extraordinary circumstances and rejecting the claim.

The new rules also bring several changes to the process of purchasing and using tickets. Passengers will be able to use the return flight on a round-trip ticket even if they did not use the outbound flight, at no additional cost. The previous practice, according to which some carriers canceled the return segment of a ticket if the passenger did not use the first flight, should thus become a thing of the past.

The ticket price will include a personal item such as a small bag or backpack, while carriers, intermediaries and metasearch engines will have to clearly display the price of a ticket that includes hand luggage at the beginning of the booking process. Carriers will still be able to offer a lower price to passengers who choose to to travel without hand luggage, but price comparison will have to be more transparent.

“We have good news for everyone who flies. We have worked hard to ensure that passengers do not lose the rights they already have, while providing better protection for families, people with reduced mobility and others who need it most.”", said Vice President of the Committee for Transport and Tourism Virginijus Sinkevičius.

Rapporteur Andrey Novakov assessed that after more than 13 years of negotiations, clearer rules and greater safety for passengers are being introduced."Today's vote is a victory for both passengers and European aviation. After more than 13 years of stagnation, we are finally replacing uncertainty with clear rules, stronger rights and trust.", Novakov pointed out.

Additionally, passengers will no longer be charged for correcting misspelled first or last names, or for using their own printed boarding pass. The digital boarding pass will have to be available after check-in without the need to use a separate app or create an account, and a passenger will not be denied boarding because they printed their own digitally issued pass.

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Special attention is paid to families and passengers who need additional assistance. The person accompanying a child under 14 years of age will have to sit with the child at no additional charge. ANDwhat right will it be worth for passengers with disabilities, people with reduced mobility and pregnant women.

Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility will be entitled to compensation, rerouting and assistance if they miss their flight because airport services did not allow them to reach the boarding gate on time.

MEP Brnjac: After thirteen years, stronger air passenger rights have finally been adopted

Croatian MEP Nikolina Brnjac, the only Croatian representative in the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism, as a member of the Conciliation Committee for the Regulation on Air Passenger Rights, participated in reaching the final agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on June 16.

"Today we have finally adopted rules that bring clearer and stronger protection to millions of passengers across Europe. I am particularly proud that we have managed to maintain the right to compensation after a delay of just three hours, to preserve the existing compensation rates and to introduce an obligation for airlines to inform you of your rights within 4 days. This agreement confirms the importance of Parliament because we have shown that we can fight for what citizens elected us to do", said Brnjac, congratulating the chief rapporteur Andrey Novakov on the historic agreement reached.

Brnjac particularly emphasized the importance of making it easier for passengers to exercise their rights, given that complex procedures and unclear communication from carriers have so far deterred many from submitting claims for compensation.

"Passengers must know what their rights are and be able to exercise them easily. They must no longer be left to complex procedures, long waits and unclear answers from airlines, which is why barely one third of compensation has been achieved."Brnjac pointed out.

The new rules, she added, further strengthen the position of passengers who need special assistance during their journey, including people with disabilities and reduced mobility, children, pregnant women and their companions.

"The adoption of the new rules is a milestone for air passenger rights, which are now finally precisely and clearly consolidated in one place, with an emphasis on the balance between passenger rights and the business model of airlines. The new rules ensure that passengers are no longer the weaker party in the event of flight delays or cancellations and that they are informed about their rights in a timely and clear manner.", Brnjac concluded.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union for the rules to become final, which is expected in early August. The updated rules will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, and member states and airlines will have one year to implement them.

Attachment: Joint text of the agreement

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing general rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights and Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air