The European Union is reshaping the landscape of air travel by fundamentally changing the rules governing the rights of millions of passengers in cases of delays, cancellations, and problems during the trip. From compensation of up to 600 euros and refunds within seven days, to missed connections, hotel accommodations, carry-on luggage, and even errors in the name on the ticket, the new Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 aims to set clearer limits on airlines’ obligations and strengthen travelers’ rights in the event of a flight disruption.

The changes affect nearly every stage of a trip that does not go according to the original plan. Specific deadlines are set for compensation and refunds, new obligations are established regarding meals, accommodations, and prolonged waiting times on board the aircraft, and, under certain conditions, passengers will even be able to book alternative transportation on their own and request that the airline cover the cost.

This is one of the most significant reforms of the European framework for the protection of air passengers, with the new regulation taking effect on October 23, 2027.

The 25 most significant changes

1. Compensation after a three-hour delay

Passengers are explicitly entitled to compensation when they arrive at their final destination more than three hours late.

2. Compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros

The amounts are set at 250 euros for trips up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU trips over 1,500 km and other trips between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 for all other longer routes.

3. If the delay reaches five hours, you can request a refund

If the departure is delayed by five hours, the airline must offer the passenger a refund.

4. Refund within seven days

When a traveler chooses a refund instead of continuing the trip, the refund must be processed automatically within seven calendar days. The amount includes the full ticket price and, where applicable, booking fees.

5. No one can force you to accept a voucher

The company may offer a voucher instead of a cash refund, but the passenger’s explicit consent is required. The voucher must not be presented as the default option, nor should the process of choosing a refund be made more difficult.

6. Unused vouchers can be converted back into cash

The voucher normally has a maximum validity of 12 months, with the option of one agreed-upon extension. If it expires without being fully used, the remaining balance must be automatically refunded to the passenger within seven days at the latest.

7. Three hours for the company to find you alternative transportation

If, following a disruption, the passenger chooses to continue their journey but the airline does not offer transportation via another flight or other means under comparable conditions within three hours, the traveler may take matters into their own hands.

8. You can book another flight on your own

Once the above time limit has passed, the passenger may arrange alternative transportation on their own, while notifying the airline. The expenses must be necessary, reasonable, and appropriate.

The airline must reimburse these costs within 14 days, up to an amount not exceeding 400% of the full ticket price and related booking fees.

9. New rule for passengers “stranded” on the plane

In the event of tarmac delays, the airline must, among other things, ensure adequate heating or cooling of the cabin, access to restrooms, and, as a general rule, free drinking water.

10. Passengers must be given the option to disembark after two hours

If the tarmac delay reaches two hours at an airport in a Member State, the aircraft must be moved to a gate or other suitable location where passengers will be allowed to disembark, subject to relevant security restrictions.

11. Food and Drink Every Two Hours

The rules regarding passenger care become much more specific: light meals and beverages are provided free of charge every two hours of waiting, a meal after three hours, and subsequently every five hours, with a maximum of three meals per day.

12. Free internet and two phone calls

Internet access and two phone calls are explicitly included in the assistance the airline is required to provide.

13. Hotel accommodation when an overnight stay is required

If, due to the disruption, the passenger must stay one or more nights while waiting for their flight or alternative transportation, the airline must provide free hotel accommodations and transportation to and from the airport.

14. Three-night limit in exceptional circumstances

If the disruption results from extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, the airline may limit hotel coverage to three nights.

This limit, however, must not be applied in the same way to specific vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities or reduced mobility, unaccompanied minors, infants, pregnant women, and, under certain conditions, people requiring special medical assistance.

15. One personal item allowed in the cabin free of charge

It is stipulated that passengers may carry one personal item at no additional charge. A personal item is defined as luggage with maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 centimeters or an item that fits under the seat in front of you.

16. Please note: wheeled carry-on luggage is not necessarily free

The regulation does not eliminate fares that do not include a wheeled carry-on bag. However, it requires greater transparency: before the booking process begins, the fare that includes carry-on luggage must be displayed by default, so that the consumer can compare the actual cost.

And if the airline is forced—for example, due to capacity constraints or a change in aircraft—to check a permitted carry-on bag into the cargo hold, it cannot impose an additional charge.

17. Free correction of name errors

A simple spelling error in a name should no longer result in an expensive “fine.” If the request is made at least 48 hours before departure, the airline must correct spelling errors at least once free of charge or make the required administrative update to the name.

However, this does not include the option to change the traveling passenger or transfer the ticket to a third party.

18. Compensation Even for a “Downgrade” in Class

If the airline upgrades the passenger to a higher class, it cannot charge them extra. If, on the other hand, the carrier places the passenger in a lower class than the one for which they paid, an automatic refund is required within 14 days.

The amount is at least 30% of the flight price for routes up to 1,500 km, 50% for most intermediate classes, and 75% for longer flights.

19. Nine months to file a claim—30 days for a response

Passengers have nine months from the departure date listed on their ticket to file a claim for compensation.

The airline must immediately acknowledge receipt and, within 30 calendar days, either pay the compensation or explain why it is not paying it.

20. New complaint procedure—and a deadline for the airline to respond

Airlines and travel agents are required to have a complaint-handling mechanism in place. A passenger may file a complaint within 12 months of the flight or the date on which the flight was scheduled to take place, or within three months of a claim for compensation, whichever date is later.

Receipt of the complaint must be confirmed within seven business days, and a substantiated response must be provided within one month. In duly justified cases, the final response may take up to two months.

21. Missed Connection: The airline is responsible

If a passenger misses a connecting flight due to a problem with the previous flight, the company must provide the passenger with another flight or alternative transportation. If a solution is not found within five hours, a refund must also be offered. A delay of more than three hours at the final destination may entitle the passenger to compensation.

22. Parents and Children in Adjacent Seats

Airlines must, at no additional charge, allow the person accompanying a child to sit in an adjacent seat, provided they are traveling under the same contract of carriage. If no seats are available, the airline must make an effort to seat them together.

23. Strollers All the Way to the Plane

Infants and children may use their strollers at no additional cost all the way to the gate or the aircraft door. Priority boarding is also provided for children with strollers and their accompanying adults.

24. Additional protection for passengers with disabilities

Information must be provided in an accessible format, and in the event of a disruption, passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility are entitled to special care and expedited service. When rerouting, additional layovers should be avoided whenever possible.

25. Free drinking water and cell phone charging at all airports

All EU airports with commercial passenger traffic should provide free drinking water and charging stations for electronic devices. This requirement applies regardless of the time of day, the flight, or the terminal where the passenger is located.

What does all this mean for travelers?

The new regulation aims to make the “what happens next” much clearer when a flight doesn’t go as planned. It sets time limits for refunds and responses, establishes rules for prolonged stays on board the aircraft, empowers travelers to find alternative solutions on their own, and limits practices such as mandatory vouchers or fees for simple name corrections.

At the same time, it is not enough for the airline to simply cite “extraordinary circumstances” in general to avoid paying compensation. It must prove that there is a direct causal link between the extraordinary event and the disruption and that this could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

The rules, however, are not yet in effect. The date that passengers and airlines should keep in mind is October 23, 2027, when Regulation 2026/2202 will take effect throughout the EU.