On the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending 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 Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air

(PE-CONS 00039/2026 – C100144/2026 – 2013/0072(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee (PE-CONS 00039/2026 – C100144/2026),

–having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 11 July 2013,

–having regard to its position at first reading on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2013)0130),

–having regard to its position at second reading on the Council position at first reading,

–having regard to the Commission's opinion on Parliament's amendments to the Council position at first reading (COM(2026)0129),

–having regard to the Council position at second reading,

–having regard to Article 294(13) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to Rule 79 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the report of its delegation to the Conciliation Committee (A10-0191/2026),

1.Approves the joint text;

2.Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council, in accordance with Article 297(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

3.Instructs its Secretary-General to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

4.Instructs its President to forward this legislative resolution to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Background

I Procedure

Ten meetings of the Parliament’s delegation took place on 28 January 2026, 11 March 2026, 15 April 2026, 20 April 2026, 19 May 2026, 20 May 2026, 2 June 2026, 9 June 2026, 11 June 2026 and 15 June 2026.

Four trilogues took place on 23 March 2026, 20 April 2026, 19 May 2026 and 2 June 2026.

Political agreement on a possible compromise package was reached on 11 June 2026. The Council delegation to the Conciliation Committee endorsed the compromise reached on 12 June.

Parliament’s delegation unanimously (27 votes in favour) approved the compromise reached in its meeting on 15 June 2026.

In light of those meetings and following an exchange of letters on 12 and 15 June 2026, the Co-Chairs of the Conciliation Committee confirmed by joint letter to the Presidents of the respective institutions that the Committee had reached agreement on a joint text as attached to the letter.

II Main points of the agreement reached

Time threshold, distances and amounts for compensation

Despite proposals from both the Council and the Commission to increase the time thresholds by which the right to compensation starts to apply, Parliament succeeded in maintaining the status quo of the current Regulation. The existing three-hour delay threshold was codified for all flights, and the compensation amounts for cancellations, denied boarding, delays and missed flights of 250, 400, and 600 Euro (depending on flight distances) were upheld.

Extraordinary circumstances

A non-exhaustive list of examples of extraordinary circumstances was introduced. Parliament insisted that this list strictly follow the caselaw of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

At the same time, the Regulation confirms that any extraordinary circumstances must be beyond the control of the airline, directly linked to the flight and that all reasonable measures must have been taken to avoid the disruption in order for the disruption to count as an extraordinary circumstance. Airlines must inform passengers of exactly which extraordinary circumstance they are citing when refusing to pay compensation.

Hand baggage

Parliament succeeded in introducing greater price transparency on hand baggage. In addition to a personal item, all listings of airfare offers must, by default, include a piece of hand baggage in the price shown. This is to prevent misleading consumers as to the total cost of a journey by only showing additional charges after purchase, and to allow consumers to make an informed choice.

Obligation to inform a passenger of the right to compensation

Council and Parliament agreed that, after a disruption, airlines have to send information digitally to each passenger about their potential right to compensation and clear instructions on how to claim it. This obligation was not included in the original proposal and will greatly increase passengers’ awareness of their rights.

Children sit next to their parents for free and strollers to be brought to the airport door

Air carriers must allow children under 14 to sit next to their parents free of charge. Moreover, boarding priority must be given to children in strollers. Strollers will be allowed to be used up to the door of the aircraft and will be returned at the door upon arrival of the flight at the destination.

Compensation scheme for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility and unaccompanied minors

Parliament succeeded in including a right to compensation and assistance for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility and unaccompanied minors who are delayed or miss connections due to a failure to provide requested assistance (i.e. no wheelchair service between gates).

Persons with disabilities or reduced mobility are also entitled to clearer compensation and replacement for equipment damaged during a journey.

No fees for printed boarding passes, no requirement to use an app

Parliament introduced the right for passengers to choose to use either a digital or physical boarding pass free of charge. Airlines cannot require a user account or the use of an application to access, use or print a boarding pass or any other information related to this Regulation.

Union Air Passenger Rights Label and scope

A “Union Air Passenger Rights Label” will be created to allow passengers to be better informed when choosing tickets. The label will only appear next to journeys performed by Union carriers, as they are obliged to apply the Regulation when departing from, and arriving in the Union. This will help ensure passengers can choose flight options based on their rights, in addition to price.

Despite Parliament’s insistence, the Regulation maintained the existing scope, applying only to Union-based carriers and journeys originating from the Union. Nevertheless, a review clause was introduced on the potential extension of the scope to non-Union carriers arriving in the Union in the future.

No fees for an administrative name-change or a spelling mistake

Typos and errors in a passenger’s name can now be corrected for free when spotted at least 48 hours before a journey and should not be considered a ground to deny boarding.

“No show” policies and denied boarding

The Regulation introduces a partial ban on “no show” policies, by which a passenger who did not use an outbound ticket would be denied boarding when attempting to use the inbound leg of the same ticket. This is now forbidden, and no fee can be charged.

Multiple compensation in case of multiple disruptions

Parliament ensured that a passenger is entitled to compensation for multiple disruptions if they experience both cancellation and delay.

Clear rules on vouchers

Clear rules on vouchers are introduced. Parliament guaranteed that they will be voluntary, that they could be more than the amount of the reimbursement or compensation due, and that, after they expire, all remaining amounts are refunded to the passenger’s bank account.

Right to bring a musical instrument

Passengers are allowed to bring their musical instruments with them on a flight, including on a seat where needed. They will also have a right to take other additional hand baggage.

Transportation to the right airport if diverted and compensation in case of delay

If a plane lands at a different airport than planned, airlines are required to provide a transfer to the original airport of arrival and if passengers arrive more than three hours late at the original airport, they are entitled to compensation.

Codification

Many passenger rights established through the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union since the original 2004 Regulation have now be codified in the Regulation and therefore are protected for the future. Parliament ensured that there was no step back on passenger rights.

Conclusion

The final text can be regarded as a very satisfactory and well-balanced compromise as it manages to secure the rights of passengers while at the same time providing clarity and being fair to air carriers.

Parliament’s delegation to the Conciliation Committee therefore recommends that the joint text be approved at third reading.

EXTENSION OF DEADLINES