In the coming months, the revision of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation will remain high on the EU policy agenda. The European Passengers’ Federation has analysed the positions of both the Council and the European Parliament and summarised its assessment and recommendations in an updated position paper. On this basis, EPF has engaged with Members of the European Parliament and the Cypriot Presidency, urging them to continue championing a strong passenger perspective throughout the revision process.
As the weaker party to the transport contract, passengers need clear, enforceable, and robust rights when disruptions occur. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 is a recognised European success story and a global benchmark for passenger protection. The current review should therefore aim to preserve and reinforce this “gold standard” – not weaken existing safeguards.
Where the Legislative Process Stands
Following the Council’s political agreement of 5 June ’25 on the revision of air passenger rights – which introduced some improvements but weakened several key protections – the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee adopted its negotiating mandate on 13 October. This mandate firmly defended core passenger rights, including compensation after a three-hour delay and the right to free hand luggage.
Trilogue negotiations between the Parliament, Council, and Commission began on 15 October. From that date, Parliament had up to three months (with a possible one-month extension) to reject the Council’s position or propose amendments by a majority vote.
On Wednesday, 21 January, the Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to upholding and strengthening passenger rights. The Council must now decide whether to accept the amendments proposed by the Parliament. Any unresolved issues would move to a six-week conciliation phase, after which failure to agree would bring the process to an end.
EPF’s Updated Position: Stronger Rights, Clearer Rules
In light of the ongoing negotiations, EPF has updated its 2020 position paper to reflect the Council and Parliament’s positions, as well as the Commission’s November 2023 proposal amending several regulations, including Regulation 261/2004.
EPF supports expanding the scope of the regulation to cover more travel situations, including non-EU carriers and multimodal journeys. We also call for banning no-show clauses and improving transparency on fares, baggage rules, and refund conditions.
Crucially, EPF advocates for stronger rights in cases of disruption, including:
- Faster disembarkation during tarmac delays
- Automatic reimbursement and compensation
- Prompt rerouting, including the right to self-reroute
- An unlimited right to assistance, also in extraordinary circumstances.
EPF strongly supports maintaining the three-hour delay compensation threshold (adjusted for inflation) and aligning the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” with established case law. We also call for guaranteed on-site airline support, coordinated airport crisis management plans, mandatory insolvency protection, and enhanced safeguards for passengers with reduced mobility and other special needs.
Finally, EPF stresses the importance of fair basic service fees, clear complaint and enforcement mechanisms, and well-defined responsibilities for airlines and intermediaries. These elements are essential to ensure that passenger rights are not only written into law, but effectively delivered in practice.
Stay informed!