Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú overall welcomes agreement on the first major reform of EU air passenger rights since 2004, following more than a decade of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
The agreement, reached through the EU’s rarely used Conciliation procedure, is expected to be voted on by the European Parliament in July. Ní Mhurchú, a member of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, and the recent Conciliation Committee, said: “This was one of the most difficult transport files to negotiate in Europe. The challenge was to strengthen passenger rights while ensuring we also protected affordability, connectivity and regional air services that many people depend on, as nobody wants increased airfares; routes cancelled or regional airlines failing.”
Existing Compensation Rights Preserved
The agreement maintains existing EU261 compensation rules, meaning passengers may still be entitled to compensation when they arrive more than three hours late, unless extraordinary circumstances apply.
“Passengers need rights that are meaningful and enforceable when disruption occurs. I note the existing compensation framework has been maintained and certainty prevails.”
Stronger Rights for Families and Vulnerable Passengers
The reforms introduce new protections for families travelling with children, and passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Airlines will be required to seat children under 14 beside an accompanying adult without additional charges. Similar protections will apply to passengers travelling with disabilities or requiring assistance. Passengers with disabilities will also benefit from stronger rights to assistance, rerouting and compensation where airport failures contribute to missed flights.
Clearer Baggage Rules and Consumer Protections
The agreement confirms the right to carry one personal item, such as a handbag or backpack, free of charge. It also introduces greater transparency around cabin baggage charges and tackles a number of practices that have frustrated passengers, such as preventing airlines from cancelling a return journey because an earlier outbound flight was not used, or charging fees for correcting minor spelling mistakes or administrative name errors. The agreement also aims to protect less tech savvy passengers as they will no longer be forced to download specific airline apps or create an account with the airline simply to access a boarding pass. “Most of the changes are common sense changes that will have a big impact”, Ní Mhurchú says. “My goal working on the file was to remove all those annoyances and worries that stop people from booking and actually let them enjoy their travel, free from burdens and protected from disruptions”.
More Choice on Reimbursements
Passengers entitled to reimbursement or compensation will be free to choose between cash and vouchers. Any voucher must be accepted voluntarily and automatically refunded if it remains unused when it expires. Ní Mhurchú noted that negotiators did not secure stronger requirements for airlines to provide pre-filled compensation claim forms. “If passengers are entitled to compensation, they will have to initiate the claim themselves. This eases the burden on airlines who are facing increasing inputs in a very competitive, low margin industry.”
Rare EU Agreement
The deal was reached through the EU’s Conciliation procedure, a final-stage legislative process used only when the European Parliament and Council cannot agree on legislation. “Conciliation is effectively the EU’s last-chance process. Reaching agreement on a file of this importance was a significant achievement and will deliver clearer and stronger protections for passengers across Europe. For the airlines there is little to be welcomed in the agreement save certainty and clarity in order to plan for and budget for the delivery of their services.”
