Brussels, Belgium. European negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to revise air passenger rights rules, with EU officials saying the changes will clarify compensation procedures, strengthen traveller protections and improve transparency on ticket prices and hand luggage. The agreement follows more than a decade of negotiations and was backed on Monday evening by the European Parliament delegation in the conciliation committee.
Agreement updates 2004 rules
The reform updates rules that had remained largely unchanged since 2004. It seeks to give passengers clearer rights in cases of denied boarding, flight delays and cancellations.
Approval by negotiators
The provisional agreement was reached by negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council. It was unanimously approved by the European Parliament delegation in the conciliation committee.
Parliament cites stronger safeguards
MEPs said they had resisted efforts to weaken existing passenger protections while securing new safeguards for families, passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, and travellers affected by disruption.
Statements from EU and Cyprus officials
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the agreement would strengthen the rights of air travellers and make it easier for passengers to enforce them.
“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,” she said.
“It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry,” she added.
Metsola said Parliament had fought to make travel fairer and procedures clearer, while noting that the deal had required commitment, political will and courage. Responding to a question, she said the undertaking “was not easy at all”.
Cyprus Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said the agreement marked an important success for the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU after 13 years of discussions on the file.