As expected, members of European Parliament approved the legislative body’s position on air passenger rights by a vast majority on Wednesday. MEPs want to keep the three-hour flight delay threshold and compensations at its existing levels, reimbursement should be easier and faster. On the contrary, the majority in the Council wants to soften some of the airlines’ obligations.
632 votes in favor, 15 against, 9 abstentions. Such unusual figures appeared on the screen when the Plenary’s voting on air passengers rights was over. The European Parliament has thus voted by an overwhelming majority to maintain—and in some respects even strengthen—the rights of air passengers.
Four key outcomes
The Wednesday’s voting brought four important outcomes. MEPs want to keep the three-hour flight delay threshold and compensation at its existing levels as stipulated in Regulation No. 261/2004 which is still in force. A pre-filled form for compensation and reimbursement from airlines should be readily available to passengers.
Next, passengers should be allowed one personal item plus one small piece of hand luggage for free. Adults accompanying under-14 children and travellers accompanying persons with reduced mobility should be allowed to sit with them at no extra cost.
Precise definition of ’extraordinary circumstances’
Regarding financial compensations (for which passengers are eligible in case of three-hour or more flight delay), the responsibility of airlines is limited to situations within their control. Other cases fall under the so-called extraordinary circumstances, typically adverse weather conditions.
Parliament wants to renew the list of these ’extraordinary circumstances’. Currently it includes natural disasters, war, bad weather or unforeseen labour disputes affecting the air operator, airport or air navigation service provider. MEPs want this list to be exhaustive and for the Commission to update it regularly.
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The duty to provide stranded passengers with refreshments every two hours beyond the initial departure time, a meal after three hours, and an overnight stay of a maximum of three nights for long delays, should be retained in all circumstances.
Faster, simpler reimbursement
MEPs voted for introduction of pre-filled forms for compensation and reimbursement requests, to simplify claims processing and help passengers and airlines avoid the use of claims agencies. According to the draft rules, air carriers would have to send passengers experiencing travel disruptions (cancellation or delays) a pre-filled form within 48 hours of the incident. Travellers would then have one year to file a request.
Pre-filled forms for compensation and reimbursement requests should be introduced. – Parliament’s position on air passengers rights
Currently, compensation practices vary significantly depending on the airline. Some air companies process claims quickly, while others do not respond to the first request as a matter of course. Sometimes, relevant forms are deliberately complicated in order to discourage passengers from claiming.
Thirteen years of negotiations
Institutional debates on regulatory changes have been ongoing since 2014. In that year, Parliament reacted to a Commission proposal to update air passenger rights, proposing that delayed or stranded air passengers should receive better access to compensation, with clearer rules about how airlines should deal with passenger complaints. Differing positions among EU countries blocked this file for 11 years.
In June 2025, however, EU ministers reached a political agreement. Subsequent negotiations with Parliament started in October 2025, but so far did not end in an agreement. That forced the Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.
