EU Commission has reached an agreement on the EU261 legislation, which covers passengers' rights in the event of cancellations or delays, after a meeting of the ministers for transport on June 5, 2025.
The ministers for transport said the new framework aims to: “Establish simpler and clearer rules for air passengers, while striking a better balance between a high level of protection for passengers and preserving connectivity and a level playing field for the aviation sector.”
Under the new framework, compensation varies based. For flights under 3,500km and intra-EU journeys, compensation applies for delays of over four hours. Compensation applies for journeys over 3,500km and delayed for over six hours.
The airline must also offer to reroute passengers at the “earliest opportunity”.
“Additionally, if an airline fails to provide an appropriate rerouting within three hours of a disruption, passengers may arrange their own rerouting and claim reimbursement of up to 400% of the original ticket cost,” the EU Commission read in a statement.
“The position finally adopted today answers to an urgent call by air passengers and airlines for up-to-date, clearer and more straightforward rules,” said Minister of Infrastructure Poland Dariusz Klimczak. “The revised rules will bring over 30 new rights to the air passengers, applicable from the moment when they buy a ticket, until they arrive at their destination, and in some cases even beyond."
The European Commission had proposed updating the EU261 legislation in 2013, but had not been able to reach an agreement for over a decade.
“It is a historical milestone as an agreement couldn't have been reached in the last 12 years,” commented Klimczak.
The right to assistance — such as refreshments, food, or accommodation — is now “clearly spelt out” under the rules. Passengers can have this reimbursed if the airlines “fails to provide” this assistance. In the event of tarmac delays, passengers can be entitled to minimum assistance and should be disembarked after three hours.
The framework will now be examined by the European Parliament under a second reading, where it can then approve, amend, or reject the new rules.