The Parliament rejects the reduction of air passenger rights and demands free hand luggage.

Brussels, January 13, 2026 – The Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament has adopted a firm position against attempts to weaken the rights of EU air passengers, voting on Monday to maintain existing protections regarding flight delays, while also proposing new benefits, such as free hand luggage. This vote represents a direct rejection of the Council's position from June 2025, which sought to raise the threshold for compensation for delays.

In short

The Transport Committee voted to maintain the current rule that allows passengers to claim compensation after a delay of three hours, instead of four to six hours, as proposed by the Council.

MEPs introduced a new requirement for airlines to allow one personal item and one small hand luggage of up to 7 kg completely free of charge.

The new rules would ensure that individuals accompanying children under 14 or passengers with reduced mobility can stay with them without having to pay extra fees.

The committee's preliminary position is a robust defense of the rights established in 2004, aimed at ensuring sufficient protection for travelers against disruptions. MEPs explicitly rejected the proposal from EU ministers to raise the compensation threshold to a period between four and six hours. Instead, they insisted that the right to reimbursement, rerouting, and compensation should activate after a delay of just three hours. Furthermore, they opposed reducing compensation amounts, advocating for a range between 300 and 600 euros, depending on the flight distance, rather than the lower cap suggested by the Council.

Beyond maintaining existing rights, Parliament is pushing for significant improvements in passenger experience. A key addition is the right to carry on board – without additional costs – a personal item, such as a handbag or a laptop, plus a small hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg. The proposal also targets hidden fees, seeking to eliminate charges for correcting spelling errors on tickets and ensuring that passengers can choose between digital and paper boarding passes without penalties. To reduce bureaucracy, airlines would be required to send pre-filled compensation forms to passengers within 48 hours of a disruption.

Particular attention has been given to vulnerable passengers. The draft rules stipulate that families with children under 14 and companions of persons with reduced mobility must be seated together without extra fees. The Commission also clarified "extraordinary circumstances" to protect airlines from liability in events such as natural disasters or war, while simultaneously limiting the airline's obligation to provide hotel accommodation to three nights during such major crises. This preliminary position, approved by 36 votes, will now go to the plenary session in January for a final vote by the entire Parliament.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/parlamentul-respinge-reducerea-drepturilor-pasagerilor-aerieni-si-cere-bagaje-de-mana-gratuite