On Tuesday (7 July), MEPs voted in favour of changes to air passenger rights rules agreed with the Council of the EU, by 646 votes to 12. The legislation aims to strengthen consumer protections while giving airlines clearer operational rules.
For consumers, it presents a clearer strengthening of rights in several areas that have become sources of frustration. For airlines, however, it presents operational challenges and additional compliance costs at a time when many airlines are exposed to global uncertainties.
The rules have addressed issues surrounding airline pricing. Over the past decade, low-cost carriers have increasingly relied on revenues from baggage fees, seat selection and other additional services. Consumers have complained that advertised fares are often different to the final price paid once essential extras are added.
Under the new rules, airlines will be required to display fares more transparently, including information about cabin baggage from the outset of the booking process. While carriers will still be able to offer lower-priced fares without carry-on luggage, passengers will have a clearer basis of overall fees from the outset. Greater transparency is unlikely to eliminate additional charging, but it may encourage more price competition and reduce claims of misleading pricing practices.
Travel amongst families will also see greater benefits. Airlines will no longer be permitted to charge parents extra to seat children under 14 beside an accompanying adult. For airlines, it is unlikely this will have a significant financial impact given the relatively smaller number of bookings affected. The same right will also apply to passengers with disabilities, reduced mobility and pregnant women. Additionally, travel for passengers with disability and reduced mobility will also include greater rights to compensation and assistance by airlines if they miss a flight due to the airport’s failure to help them reach a gate on time.
The new rules also address the realities of digital technology use for travel. Airlines will now be required to offer digital boarding passes without requiring passengers to download mobile apps, while passengers who print their own boarding passes cannot be refused entry to board. This measure comes after Ryanair’s policy change last year, where the airline moved to 100% digital boarding passes, via the Ryanair app. This rule in particular will improve travel for older passengers, who are not comfortable relying on mobile phones or installing airline apps for accessing their boarding passes.
Once the provisional agreement reached in the Conciliation Committee is approved by Parliament, it will have to be confirmed by Council by the beginning of August 2026. The updated rules would enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. From that moment, EU countries and companies will have one year to prepare for their implementation.
While airlines will face additional compliance requirements and may need to adapt some business practices, the changes also provide greater regulatory clarity and the potential to build stronger consumer trust. As the rules move towards final approval and implementation, their success will be measured by their ability to achieve a fairer, more transparent and more accessible travel experience for passengers, while allowing Europe’s aviation sector to remain competitive and resilient.
