Revamping Air Travel Rules for Better Passenger Protection

Summary

The European Commission has reviewed 243 amendments proposed by the European Parliament to the EU rules that protect air passengers.

• Accepted as‑is: 115 amendments (e.g., 1‑8, 12, 14‑19, 21, 24, 26‑33, 35‑39, 42, 45‑47, 53, 56, 59‑60, 64‑66, 69, 71, 77‑78, 80‑83, 89, 92, 95‑96, 98, 109‑110, 113, 115‑117, 119‑123, 125‑128, 130, 135, 137‑142, 147‑148, 150, 153, 157, 164‑167, 169‑172, 174‑178, 181, 183‑184, 188, 190, 195‑198, 200‑201, 203, 206‑210, 241‑243).
• Partly accepted (needs wording changes or agreement in principle): 92 amendments (e.g., 9‑11, 16, 20, 22‑23, 40, 43‑44, 49, 51‑52, 70, 74, 84‑86, 88‑91, 93‑94, 97‑100, 111‑114, 124‑134, 136, 143‑144, 149‑152, 154‑156, 158‑163, 173, 179‑180, 185‑187, 190‑192, 194, 195‑199, 205, 211‑215, 217‑239).
• Rejected: 36 amendments (13, 25, 34, 41, 48, 50, 54, 55, 57‑58, 61‑63, 67‑73, 75‑76, 79, 87, 108, 112, 118, 129, 145, 151, 168, 182, 186, 191, 202, 204, 213‑214, 240).

Key points of the Commission’s opinion

1. Objective of the proposal – Strengthen passenger rights, clarify rules, improve national enforcement, and better handle baggage issues while respecting airlines’ financial limits.

2. Accepted amendments – Clarify definitions, passenger rights, carrier and intermediary duties, complaint handling, national enforcement bodies, penalties, and cross‑border cooperation. These changes improve the legal text and passenger protection.

3. Partly accepted amendments

• Baggage – The Commission wants a separate review before adding a free hand‑bag right.
• Extraordinary circumstances – Accepts a non‑exhaustive list with a clear deadline for carriers to prove such circumstances.
• Compensation amounts – Will adjust amounts every five years instead of three to reduce administrative work.
• Pre‑filled forms – Supports giving passengers ready‑made forms for claims, but needs clearer wording.
• Delegated powers – Accepts delegation for an unlimited period, not just five years.
• Complaints about baggage – Supports the idea but wants a technology‑neutral way to provide forms.
• Persons with specific needs – Accepts the principle of extra compensation for disabled passengers and unaccompanied children, but requires safeguards and a clear claim process.

4. Rejected amendments

• Scope changes – Rejects extending the rules to all flights arriving in the EU, to avoid sudden legal and enforcement problems.
• Extraordinary circumstances – Rejects making the list exhaustive or removing the definition.
• Denied boarding – Keeps the current definition that allows legitimate reasons for refusal.
• Insurance and guarantee fund – No immediate rule; will be studied later.
• Double compensation – Passengers can only get compensation once per journey.
• Payment forms – Keeps the option for vouchers or other non‑cash payments with passenger consent.
• Deadlines – Rejects very short or unclear time limits for information, reimbursement, or assistance.
• Ticket transfer – Rejects allowing ticket transfer after death to avoid a second‑hand ticket market.
• Transparency and hand baggage – Keeps current rules; no new free hand‑bag allowance.

5. Conclusion – The Commission will keep working with Parliament and the Council to balance strong passenger protection with a workable framework for airlines.