British holidaymakers travelling to Europe could soon see greater clarity over cabin baggage charges after the European Union reached a major provisional agreement on air passenger rights following 13 years of negotiations. The landmark deal was reached on Monday evening between the European Council and the European Parliament.
Key Changes for Passengers
The new rules will make it easier for passengers to exercise their rights, the Council of the EU has stated. Among the most significant changes is the right to carry one personal item on board without an additional fee, such as a small bag or backpack. Airlines will also be required to display fares that include a cabin baggage allowance before customers start the booking process, improving price transparency and ticket comparability.
It has been agreed that airlines may offer cheaper tickets for those who choose to voluntarily travel without hand luggage, the European Parliament has confirmed.
Compensation Reforms
Air passengers in Europe can currently claim compensation ranging from €250 to €600 when flights are cancelled or arrive more than three hours late. The new text confirms that passengers on journeys longer than 3,500 kilometres would be entitled to €300 if their flight is delayed by more than three hours, while compensation would rise to €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or the flight ends up being cancelled, Euronews reports.
The agreement would also prevent airlines from refusing to allow passengers to travel solely because they failed to take an earlier flight included in the same reservation.
Protections for Families and Disabled Travellers
Under the new rules, children under the age of 14 must be seated next to a parent or accompanying adult without extra charges. The same protection will apply to pregnant passengers and travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Additional rights for passengers with disabilities include compensation where airport assistance failures cause them to miss a flight, as well as stronger rerouting and support provisions.
Political Reactions
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said: "The European Parliament has always been the strongest advocate for strong air passenger rights. This agreement will strengthen the rights of air passengers across Europe. It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry. Parliament fought hard to make travel fairer and procedures clearer, and this is what we have delivered."
Transport and Tourism Committee Vice-chair Virginijus Sinkevičius (Greens, LT) also said: "Today Europe is delivering for air passengers. We have protected the rights people already have, added new safeguards, and brought greater clarity when things go wrong. Parliament was clear from day one: we wanted to modernise the rules, but we would not let passengers pay the price. After more than a decade of deadlock, Europe is finally updating air passenger rights while keeping passengers firmly at the centre."
Rapporteur Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) added: "Parliament promised passengers that their rights will be protected. And today we delivered. We fought for people, not for statistics. Because behind every delay and every cancellation there are real lives. We also added many clear improvements for families, PRMs and for a competitive aviation sector. This is a balanced result that we can all be proud of."
Next Steps
The provisional deal must now be formally endorsed by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU within the next six weeks, although the deadline can be extended by a further two weeks if necessary. Following a legal and linguistic review of the text, both institutions will hold separate votes on the agreement. The European Parliament is currently expected to vote on the measures during its plenary session in July.
