EP approved new air passenger rights. Here's what could change for travellers

Updated 7.10pm with Roberta Metsola statement

Air passengers across the EU could soon benefit from a range of new rights after a vote in the European Parliament.

The package of rights for airline passengers was approved on Tuesday by 546 votes to 12, with three abstentions, after more than a decade of negotiations. 

The changes still need final approval from the Council of Ministers, although EU institutions have already reached an agreement on the package.

If adopted, the new rules will come into place in 2027.

Here's what will change:

Using the bathroom while stuck on tarmac

If a plane remains on the tarmac for 30 minutes, passengers will have the right to use the aircraft's toilets.

Airlines will also be required to provide free drinking water while passengers are waiting. 

If an aircraft is grounded for more than two hours, passengers will be able to disembark, although this rule may be ignored if the aircraft cannot leave its position for safety, immigration, air traffic control or security-related reasons.

Free personal bag remains

Those embarking on a flight will also have the right to carry on board one free personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, measuring up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm. EU operating airlines, including low-cost operators such as Ryanair, already do not charge for this service.

However, to improve price transparency and comparability, MEPs insisted on obliging airlines, intermediaries and search portals to always display the airfare inclusive of carry-on luggage at the outset of the booking process, the European Parliament said.

Airlines may offer cheaper tickets for passengers who decide to travel without hand luggage.

Flight delay compensation stays the same

The process to receive compensation in cases of a severely delayed or cancelled flight will also be simplified, the EU parliament said.

Existing compensation amounts will not be revised, however.

They will remain as follows:

• €250 for journeys up to 1,500km,
• €400 for intra-EU journeys of more than 1,500km and other journeys between 1,500km and 3,500km;
• and €600 for all other longer journeys.

Air passengers will have nine months to file a compensation request, while airlines will have 30 days to pay the compensation or invoke extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying.

More flexibility for return flights

Passengers will no longer lose the return portion of a return ticket simply because they did not use the outbound flight. 

Under the new rules, airlines will not be allowed to charge an additional fee in these circumstances. 

No charges for minor name corrections

Passengers will no longer be charged extra fees for correcting name spelling errors or for a printed version of a boarding pass if they have already checked in.

Digital and printed boarding passes

Passengers will also have the right to obtain boarding passes digitally upon check-in, without any further request or obligation to have a user account or a specific application.

In addition, passengers shall not be denied boarding on the grounds that they used their own printed version of a digitally issued boarding pass.

Parents seated with their children

The new rules also guarantee that parents will be seated next to their children free of charge, removing additional seat selection fees in these cases.

Daniel Attard, the only Maltese MEP serving on the European Parliament committee responsible for the legislation, said the changes are a “real win” for air passengers.

“For Malta, this matters every time someone boards a plane for work, study, medical treatment or to see family. Passenger rights must be clear, fair and enforceable, and that is what today’s vote achieves," he said.

Airlines, meanwhile, have warned that the new rules are likely to increase operating costs, which they say could result in higher ticket prices.

In a statement, EP president Roberta Metsola pointed to parliament's overwhelming support for the changes. 

"The new agreement on air passenger rights has just been voted by an overwhelming majority in the EU parliament...This brings greater certainty to the aviation sector, stronger passenger rights, and easier travel across Europe," she said.