After thirteen years of deadlock are we finally on the brink of a new set of air passenger rights fit for today’s travel market?

Last year, the 2013 European Commission proposal to review the Air Passenger Rights Regulation returned to the negotiating table. EU ministers landed on a political agreement in June 2025 which MEPs in Parliament pushed back on strongly, maintaining their redlines on delay compensation, family seating and cabin baggage.

The Parliament’s position put air passengers’ rights back at the heart of the regulation, and now it’s down to the Council of the EU to work with the amendments. If they don’t accept Parliament’s proposed changes, it’s the turn of a Conciliation Committee to finalise the regulation one way or another. 

There’s much at stake in a sector where piling on extra changes and devising elaborate ways to avoid compensating passengers have made air travel a frustrating experience for many. 

Standing up for air passengers 

As we reach the final stage of this long journey, Euroconsumers and its members are urging national governments in the Council to maintain the strong and enforceable passenger protections agreed by the Parliament.

Here’s how the EU can stand up for passengers to grow market trust and ensure the long term competitiveness of European aviation: 

• 1. Uphold the three hour compensation threshold

Passengers would have to wait four or even six hours before becoming eligible for compensation, if the current three-hour threshold is raised, weakening their protection and reducing airlines’ incentive to prevent delays.

Flight data studies show that extending the threshold could strip more than 60% of currently eligible passengers of their rights. Economic analysis shows that the current rules have reduced delays on short routes by two-thirds at a maximum cost of just €1.73 per passenger. This shows the threshold and regulation works: airlines invest in mitigation rather than pay compensation. 

We also support a non-exhaustive list of extraordinary circumstances, aligned with CJEU case law, to ensure compensation is consistently enforced.  

• 2. A complete ban on unfair hand luggage fees

Consumer expectations are very clear: our survey Packed with problems: consumers call for free and fair hand luggage rules across Europe  shows that 90% of consumers believe hand luggage should be included in ticket prices and 92% want standardised rules across airlines.

Yet despite the European Court of Justice’s 2014 Vueling ruling that reasonable hand baggage cannot be subject to additional fees, airlines continue charging for hand luggage. It’s time for explicit clarification that passengers cannot be charged for a personal item and reasonably sized hand luggage.  

• 3. Protections for families and vulnerable passengers

We strongly support the European Parliament’s proposal to clarify that passengers must not be charged to be seated with their children, and nor should companions of passengers with reduced mobility incur any fees. This is a basic fairness issue and a matter of dignity and safety.

Keep up passenger protection ambition 

These measures represent the minimum necessary to protect existing rights while modernising the air passenger framework.

Weakening passenger rights will not only harm travellers but also undermine trust and participation in the market.  Strengthening will give certainty, confidence and a clear framework for fair competition where companies and consumers can flourish.  

We therefore urge national governments to follow the Parliament’s lead and safeguard passenger rights.