Brussels, 16 June 2026 – The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional agreement on the revision of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, updating EU rules on air passenger rights for the first time since 2004.

The agreement preserves the three-hour delay threshold for compensation entitlement and maintains existing compensation levels of €250, €400 and €600 based on flight distance. It also introduces a number of new consumer protections, including the right to carry one personal item on board free of charge, the obligation for airlines to display ticket prices inclusive of hand luggage from the outset of the booking process, and the right for children under 14 to be seated next to an accompanying person at no extra cost. Airlines will also be required to provide passengers with clear instructions on compensation procedures following disruptions, while passengers will have nine months to submit claims.

For consumers, the agreement brings greater predictability and clarity when disruptions occur. Passengers will benefit from improved access to information, faster reimbursement procedures, and enhanced protections for families, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, and pregnant travellers.

FIA Region I welcomes the agreement as a broadly positive outcome for air passengers and is particularly pleased that the European Parliament successfully defended the three-hour delay threshold for compensation eligibility. Throughout the legislative process, FIA Region I consistently advocated for the preservation of existing compensation rights, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and greater legal clarity for both passengers and carriers.

“The preservation of the three-hour compensation threshold is an important achievement for consumers across Europe. Air passenger rights are among the most tangible and visible consumer protections delivered by the European Union, and it was essential to avoid a weakening of these safeguards. While the final compromise is not perfect, it provides greater certainty, transparency, and protection for passengers while preserving the fundamental principle that travellers should be compensated when significant disruptions occur” said Diogo Pinto, Director General of FIA Region I.

FIA Region I will now analyse the final text in detail and continue to engage with European institutions and stakeholders to ensure that the new framework is implemented in a manner that delivers meaningful and effective protection for passengers.

The provisional agreement must now be formally approved by both the European Parliament and the Council following legal-linguistic revision. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the text during its July plenary session.

About the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I

FIA Region I, based in Brussels, is a consumer body representing 103 Mobility Clubs and more than 41 million members across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The FIA advocates for safe, affordable, clean, and efficient mobility for all.

Contact

Emanuel Sousa Ferreira
Communications Officer
eferreira@fia.com