MEPs vote on Wednesday on an update to the rights of air travellers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay.

Ahead of the vote, on Tuesday, plenary discusses the Council’s proposed changes to existing air passenger rights rules. In the face of national governments’ push to weaken these rights, Parliament is set to insist on preserving the rights of air travellers to be reimbursed or re-routed and to claim compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours or is cancelled, or if they are denied boarding. Council is proposing that travellers should be compensated only after a four- to six-hour delay, depending on flight distance.

Parliament’s draft text offers a comprehensive list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters, weather conditions or unforeseen labour disputes, that would release airlines of their responsibility to pay compensation. Council favours an open-ended list.

Plenary is also expected to defend the right to carry on board, at no additional cost, one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop, plus one small piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 100 cm (combined length, width and height) and weighing no more than 7 kg.

Background information

In 2014, 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 did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.

passenger rights (T)

air transport package (T)

NOVAKOV, Andrey (EPP, BG)

EP Plenary debate on Air passenger rights

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur, Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT), vice-chair of TRAN Committee and the shadow rapporteurs Matteo RICCI (S&D, IT), Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI (ECR, PL), Vicent MARZÀ IBÁÑEZ (Greens/EFA, ES) and Arash SAEIDI (The Left, FR), hold a press conference on Air passenger rights. MEPs discussed the Council’s proposed changes to existing air passenger rights rules and on an update to the rights of air travelers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur, Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT) , vice-chair of TRAN Committee and the shadow rapporteurs on Air passenger rights

Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, and Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, close the debate on Air Passenger Rights, an update to the rights of air travellers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. In 2014, 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 did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.

Air Passenger Rights: closing statements by Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, and Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on Air Passenger Rights. They discuss the Council’s proposed changes to existing air passenger rights rules. Parliament’s draft text offers a comprehensive list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters, weather conditions or unforeseen labour disputes, that would release airlines of their responsibility to pay compensation. Council favours an open-ended list. Plenary also defends the right to carry on board, at no additional cost, one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop, plus one small piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 100 cm (combined length, width and height) and weighing no more than 7 kg.

Air Passenger Rights: MEPs debate

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism open the debate on Air Passenger Rights, an update to the rights of air travellers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. In 2014, 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 did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Air Passenger Rights: opening statements by Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

EP Plenary session - Air Passenger Rights

This News item presents extracts from the debate (20/1) and from the vote (21/1) on Air Passenger Rights. In 2014, 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 did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Air Passenger Rights: extracts from the debate (20/1) and from the vote (21/1)

This infoclip presents different stages of air travel. It illustrates situations commonly experienced by travelers, including departures and arrivals, hand luggage, check-in procedures, security controls and aircraft operations. The footage intend to offer a broad, illustrative background to the topic of air passenger rights. The Video may not be used in any way to denigrate or damage the image of Aeroporti di Roma and the Mundys Group Companies

Infoclip: Air passengers rights (extended version)

This infoclip presents different stages of air travel. It illustrates situations commonly experienced by travelers, including departures and arrivals, hand luggage, check-in procedures, security controls and aircraft operations. The footage intend to offer a broad, illustrative background to the topic of air passenger rights.

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