On Tuesday 1 September, Members of the European Parliament confirmed changes to air passenger rights that were first reported earlier in 2026. These rules have been in place for more than 20 years, since 2004, and aim to protect passengers against disruption to their travels.
While many of our rights, such as compensation if flights are delayed by a certain number of hours, will simply be upheld by the latest vote, there are some changes due to come into effect, too. Extra costs for hand luggage have been something that’s plagued travellers for decades, but new regulations are set to change that. After more than a decade of negotiations between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, a landmark agreement has been reached.
What is the new rule for hand luggage?
New rules will include the right for passengers to carry one personal item such as a small bag or backpack with them onboard without incurring an extra cost. Airlines will also be required by law to display air fares that include carry-on luggage while booking to improve transparency and comparability between airlines and tickets. Airlines may still offer cheaper tickets who travel without hand luggage, MEPs say.
A small catch to be aware of, however, is that this regulation applies to EU airlines only. This means that on non-EU airlines, like easyJet and Jet2, passengers may still be bound to the old regulations – except on flights returning to the UK from an EU country.
Our top recommendations for hand luggage, from suitcases to carry bags and backpacks that’ll withstand every flight
Which other rights have been introduced?
Several new rights are set to improve passenger safety and protection. These include rules to make it easier for passengers to claim compensation and access assistance in case of delay or cancellation, as well as new regulations reinforcing rights for persons with specific needs, such as persons with disabilities or reduced mobility and pregnant passengers.
Air passenger rights changes to know
- The right to carry on board, without extra cost, one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack
- Passengers will no longer be charged for correcting spelling errors or for a printed version of a boarding pass if they have already checked in
- Passengers will be able to take the return flight of a two-way ticket even if they did not use the first flight
- Clearer and quicker reimbursement for flight disruption and travel delays
- Passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility will have the right to compensation, rerouting and assistance if they miss a flight due to the airport’s failure to help them reach the gate on time
- Any person accompanying a child below the age of 14 will be entitled to an adjacent seat without paying extra. The same right will apply to passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, and to pregnant women.
“I’m proud that, after 13 years of negotiations, we reached a landmark agreement to strengthen EU air passenger rights,” announced Alexis Vafeades, minister of transport, communications and works of the Republic of Cyprus. “This modernised framework will deliver certainty, fairness and stronger protection for millions of European air passengers. The agreement strikes a fair balance for our airlines, helping preserve connectivity that is vital to the EU’s internal market and its citizens.”
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