Passenger rights
New EU flight rights from October 2027: what changes for delays, refunds and families
The first rewrite of EU261 since 2004 keeps €250–€600 compensation but adds a claim deadline, a no-show ban and free seats next to children. Here's what it means for you.
Europe has finished the first big overhaul of its air passenger rights rules since 2004. The new law — Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 — was published in the EU's Official Journal on 2 October 2026 and entered into force on 22 October. Most of it applies from 23 October 2027. Until then, today's EU261 rules stay as they are.
What stays the same
Earlier drafts would have pushed the delay threshold to four or more hours. The final text didn't. Compensation still starts at three hours' delay at arrival, or for a cancellation, at these levels:
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
The scope is unchanged too: all flights departing the EU, and flights into the EU when operated by an EU airline — whatever your nationality.
What changes in your favour
- Airlines must tell you your rights. After a disruption, the airline has to inform you within 96 hours of your rights and how to claim.
- No more "no-show" penalty. If you skip the outbound flight, the airline can no longer cancel your return flight or charge you to board it.
- Families sit together for free. Children under 14 must be seated next to an accompanying adult on the same booking, at no extra cost.
- Clearer fares. Prices, including hand-baggage charges, must be shown more transparently so you can compare offers.
- Clearer "extraordinary circumstances". The law now lists situations — such as severe weather or air-traffic-control strikes — where airlines don't owe compensation, to reduce disputes.
- Better support for passengers with reduced mobility, including stronger protection of mobility equipment.
What could cost you
A nine-month deadline to claim. Under today's rules, how long you have to claim depends on national law — in some countries several years. Once the new rules apply, several legal analyses report a hard limit of nine months. Claims experts are advising passengers with older delays to file before 23 October 2027, because it isn't yet clear how courts will treat older flights after that date.
What to do now
- Had a delay or cancellation in the last few years? Check whether it qualifies and claim now, directly with the airline first. It's free to claim yourself. If the airline refuses or ignores you and you don't want to deal with it, a claims service such as AirHelp (affiliate link) can take over in exchange for a share of the compensation.
- Keep evidence: booking confirmation, boarding pass, and any delay notices.
- For flights before October 2027, today's rules apply — the airline can't use the new rules to refuse a claim for an earlier flight.