The European Union has updated regulations governing air passenger rights, including provisions for compensation for flight delays, free seating for children next to their parents, and enhanced protections for pregnant individuals and passengers with special needs. The right to compensation for delays exceeding three hours remains in place, ranging from €250 to €600 depending on the route distance. At the same time, the application process will be simplified: airlines will be required to provide passengers with clear instructions on how to claim compensation immediately after a delay, which will help enforce rights more effectively.
Additionally, the new legislation introduces a prohibition on charging extra fees for guaranteeing seating arrangements where children are seated next to their parents or guardians, addressing the current practice of forcibly separating families without additional services. The rights of pregnant individuals and persons with special needs are also strengthened, ensuring they cannot be denied boarding due to overbooking. Furthermore, airports are held accountable for inadequate assistance organization, leading to passenger delays.
The law limits the amount of time passengers can remain on board during a delayed flight to a maximum of two hours, after which airlines must allow passengers to disembark to the terminal and provide food. This new regulation aims to prevent prolonged delays aboard flights. Moreover, passengers are granted the right to correct booking errors, such as misspelled names, free of charge if addressed no later than 48 hours before departure.
These amendments aim to ensure balanced protection of consumer rights in the aviation sector and to promote enhanced service for passengers in EU member states.