On Friday, 12 June 2026, representatives of the 27 EU member states decided to maintain the so-called EU261/2004 rule, which allows passengers on delayed flights to receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600. The EU Parliament will review the proposal over the coming weeks.
Since 2004, passengers on EU flights that are delayed by more than three hours can claim compensation. Depending on the length of the journey, the amount can range from €250 to €600. The European passenger rights regulation known as EU261/2004 offers a strict and unique set of rules to deal with delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
Over the past few years, there has been an ongoing debate about a possible reform of the EU261/2004 rule. Some of the proposals put forward by the European Commission included opting for a four-hour threshold instead of the current three hours and capping the amount paid at €500 in order to allow airlines a little extra flexibility.
Delivering for Europeans. ✈️🇪🇺
— Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026 (@CY2026EU) June 12, 2026
Today, the Council’s delegation to the Conciliation Committee agreed on a joint text on the revision of Air Passenger Rights, with broad support from Member States.
A major achievement of the Cyprus Presidency and proof that Europe delivers… pic.twitter.com/HjhGM34jG5
On Friday, 12 June 2026, however, the 27 EU member states have decided not to change the current threshold nor to lower the amount paid, thus effectively putting passenger rights above commercial interest. According to the European Commission, airlines pay approximately €8.1 billion per year due to the EU261/2004 rule. The EU member states also included an extra line, forcing airlines to provide eligible passengers with a link to the compensation claim form and this within 48 hours of the scheduled arrival time.
Aside from the maintained and reinforced compensation rules, the proposal includes other alterations to the EU261/2004 rule as well. For example, airlines will no longer be allowed to charge extra to parents who want to sit next to their children on a flight.
Moreover, passengers should be able to correct minor booking errors without charge. Under the current set of rules, small errors can quickly lead to hefty charges. An error of three characters or more, for example, can cost passengers up to €160.
The amendments to the EU261/2004 rule are specifically aimed at improving transparency regarding airline pricing, allowing less room for “hidden fees” that are often added to the original price during the booking process.
“The European Parliament promised passengers that their rights would not move backwards, and we didn’t give up. Today’s decision by EU member states confirms it. The three-hour threshold is preserved. Compensation is preserved. New rights are added beyond the status quo,” commented Andrey Novakov MEP, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, in a statement from the European People’s Party Group.
The European Parliament tried to include other measures in the amendment, including a free baggage allowance of up to 7 kilograms. Although this was not included in the amendment, the member states are proposing that airlines should include a cabin bag in their basic ticket fee, allowing passengers to opt out later on during the booking process, thus leading to a discount compared to the initially shown price.
The proposal will be reviewed by the EU Parliament as of Monday, 15 June 2026, and will be put forward during a plenary vote on 8 July 2026 for final adoption by the EU ministers. Although the text is expected to be adopted as is, until 8 July 2026, it is not legally binding yet.
