EU Approves New Air Passenger Rights

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The EU’s reform of air-passenger rights has now passed a major political hurdle. On 7 July 2026, the European Parliament approved the compromise text by 646 votes to 12, preserving the core rule that passengers can claim compensation after delays of more than three hours. The compensation levels remain €250, €400 and €600, depending on distance.

The Council and Parliament had already reached a political agreement on 15 June 2026, after 13 years of negotiations. The Council still has to complete formal adoption, signature and publication in the EU Official Journal before the rules fully enter into force.

What changes

The reform keeps the current compensation system but adds clearer procedures: airlines must inform passengers electronically within 96 hours after arrival if a delay may give rise to compensation, and they must provide instructions for filing a claim.

It also adds rules on fare transparency, cabin baggage, free seating for children near accompanying adults, and clearer treatment of “extraordinary circumstances.”

Airlines’ reaction: frustration, not celebration

Airlines had pushed for a weaker compensation threshold, arguing that the three-hour rule increases costs and does not solve the real causes of delays. IATA called the reform a “missed opportunity,” saying EU261 creates an annual regulatory burden of about €8 billion and does little to improve punctuality.

Airlines for Europe made a similar argument, saying the deal fails to address air-traffic-control inefficiencies and will push costs into ticket prices.

How Asian and other non-EU airlines will react

Non-EU airlines, including Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, ANA, JAL, Korean Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines, will likely react pragmatically rather than politically.

They are not covered on every route, but they are covered when operating flights departing from the EU. For example:

  • Frankfurt → Bangkok on Thai Airways: EU rules apply.
  • Paris → Tokyo on ANA or JAL: EU rules apply.
  • Bangkok → Frankfurt on Thai Airways: EU rules generally do not apply, because it arrives in the EU on a non-EU airline.
  • Bangkok → Frankfurt on Lufthansa: EU rules apply, because it arrives in the EU on an EU airline.

Asian airlines serving Europe will therefore need stronger EU-facing claims systems, clearer passenger notifications, and possibly higher compliance reserves for EU departures. But they may also continue pricing and contract structures so that the EU cost is absorbed mainly on Europe-linked routes.

Are only EU-based airline tickets affected?

No. The rule is not based mainly on where the ticket is bought. It is based on the route and the operating airline.

EU passenger rights apply if:

  • the flight departs from the EU, regardless of whether the airline is EU or non-EU;
  • the flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline;
  • the flight is within the EU, regardless of airline nationality.

What if the ticket is booked in Hong Kong, Bangkok or Tokyo?

Booking location usually does not remove the protection.

So if a passenger buys a Lufthansa, Air France, KLM or Finnair ticket in Hong Kong, Bangkok or Tokyo, they can still be protected if the flight falls within EU261 scope.

Examples:

  • Tokyo → Paris on Air France: protected.
  • Bangkok → Frankfurt on Lufthansa: protected.
  • Hong Kong → Amsterdam on KLM: protected.
  • Tokyo → Paris on Japan Airlines: usually not protected for the inbound flight to the EU, because it is a non-EU airline flying from outside the EU into the EU.
  • Paris → Tokyo on Japan Airlines: protected, because it departs from the EU.

Bottom line: The reform strengthens passengers on EU-linked flights. It does not protect every ticket sold by a European airline everywhere in the world, but it does protect many flights booked outside Europe when the route or operating carrier connects legally to the EU system.