The European Parliament approved on Tuesday the revised EU rules on air passengers, who will continue to benefit from free cabin luggage and will be entitled to financial compensation if flights are delayed by at least three hours.
Almost the entire hemicycle voted in favour of the agreement reached with EU countries after more than a decade of negotiations. The bill was approved with 646 MEPs in favour, 12 against and three abstentions.
European air travellers are currently entitled to compensation of between €250 and €600 if a flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours. The new text does not change this provision and specifies that airlines will pay €300 for flights of more than 3,500 kilometres and €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or is cancelled.
Air passengers will have nine months to file a compensation request, while airlines will have 30 days to pay the compensation or invoke extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying.
The rules also clarify the cabin baggage fee policy allowed in the EU. Passengers will still be entitled to a free personal item measuring 40cm by 30cm by 15cm.
