Where the law stands, Dossier 2013/0072(COD)
Air passenger rights
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights and amendment of Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · Conciliation (third reading)
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Negotiations with the Council
Parliament approved the text agreed with the Council on 7 July 2026. The Council must now adopt it formally before it is published as law.
- Referred to committee(done) 18 June 2026
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 15 June 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 1 July 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 7 July 2026
- Negotiations with the Council Trilogue 2 June 2026
- Published as law(to come)
Decided in plenary
7 July 2026 · decision 3
Transport & tourism, New EU law
Air passenger rights
Passed 646 for · 12 against · 3 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The adopted law maintains the existing three-hour delay threshold and compensation amounts, and introduces new rights such as free hand baggage in price displays and free seating for children under 14.
21 January 2026 · decision 1
Transport & tourism, New EU law
Air passenger rights
Amendments 1 + 243 (voted as one) adopted On the amendment: 632 for · 15 against · 9 abstained
AI summary:The position aims to preserve existing passenger rights, simplify claims, and extend the rules to more flights, while capping airline costs for hotel stays in extraordinary circumstances.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- LEGI
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Andrey Novakov (EPP), Mep #97293 (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Matteo Ricci (S&D), Vilis Krištopans (Patriots), Kosma Złotowski (ECR), Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Renew), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Greens), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Mep #97308 (ALDE), Mep #28331 (GUE-NGL), Mep #4553 (ECR), Mep #28177 (S&D), Mep #102931 (Greens)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Environment, Climate and Food Safety
- Legal Affairs
- Internal Market and Consumer Protection· rapporteurMep #4275 (EPP)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 7 Jul 2026
AI summary:Parliament approves the joint text for a regulation amending rules on air passenger rights, covering denied boarding, cancellation, delay, and carrier liability.
Adopted by Parliament· 21 Jan 2026
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the regulation updating EU air passenger rights covers denied boarding, cancellation, delay, missed connections, and upgrades or downgrades. It sets compensation levels, defines extraordinary circumstances, and strengthens passenger information and enforcement.
Adopted by Parliament· 5 Feb 2014
Tabled for plenary· 1 Jul 2026
AI summary:Parliament approves the joint text amending EU rules on air passenger rights, covering compensation for delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and assistance for disabled passengers and unaccompanied minors.
Tabled for plenary· 13 Jan 2026
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending EU rules on air passenger rights and air carrier liability. It strengthens passenger rights, clarifies extraordinary circumstances, and updates compensation rules.
Tabled for plenary· 22 Jan 2014
Committee draft· 24 Nov 2025
AI summary:Parliament's draft recommendation on the Council position amends the EU rules on air passenger rights, covering compensation, assistance, rerouting, baggage, and enforcement.
Committee draft· 6 Sept 2013
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (IMCO), Opinion (IMCO)
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 1 step
16 September 2026
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 3 steps
7 July 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 7 Jul 2026 Adopted text TA10-0238/2026Report A10-0191/2026
6 July 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 6 Jul 2026 Council / Commission text C10-0144/2026Report A10-0191/2026
1 July 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 2 steps
18 June 2026
Referred to the LEGI committee
The lead committee prepares the report; ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), JURI (Legal Affairs), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) give an opinion.
15 June 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
LEGI voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
Negotiations with the Council 4 steps
2 June 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
19 May 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
20 April 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
23 March 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
Plenary stage 4 steps
21 January 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 21 Jan 2026 Adopted text TA10-0009/2026Report A10-0001/2026
20 January 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 20 Jan 2026 Council / Commission text C10-0228/2025Report A10-0001/2026
19 January 2026
243 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
13 January 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 2 steps
12 January 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
LEGI voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
5 December 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of TRAN (Transport and Tourism) proposed changes to the draft.
Negotiations with the Council 1 step
1 December 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
Committee stage 1 step
24 November 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Negotiations with the Council 2 steps
19 November 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
15 October 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
Committee stage 1 step
9 October 2025
Referred to the LEGI committee
The lead committee prepares the report; ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), JURI (Legal Affairs), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) give an opinion.
Plenary stage 2 steps
5 February 2014
Plenary vote
Sitting of 5 Feb 2014 Adopted text TA7-0092/2014Report A7-0020/2014
22 January 2014
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 6 steps
17 December 2013
Committee vote: report adopted
LEGI voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
5 November 2013
IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
8 October 2013
Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)
Members of TRAN (Transport and Tourism) proposed changes to the draft.
Amendments in committee (TRAN)Amendments in committee (TRAN)
17 September 2013
Draft opinion from IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
6 September 2013
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
16 April 2013
Referred to the LEGI committee
The lead committee prepares the report; ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety), JURI (Legal Affairs), IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) give an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2013/0072(COD)