On 15 June, the European Parliament and Council reached political agreement on revisions to the regulation on air passenger rights, which was first introduced in 2004. The Commission’s proposals for revisions were first proposed in 2013, with negotiations deadlocked up until this agreement.
The regulation covers all air passengers, strengthening and simplifying their rights in the event of delays or cancellations to flights. Additionally, the revised regulation introduces a number of specific measures for persons with reduced mobility, including people with disabilities. These include:
Airlines must pay for the full cost of replacement for lost/damaged mobility equipment and compensation for injured assistance dogs.
Airlines must provide temporary replacement at no cost if the person’s equipment gets lost/damaged or compensation for injured assistance dogs.
The right to compensation and rerouting where passengers with disabilities miss a flight due to the lack or delay in the provision of assistance.
The possibility for passengers with disabilities to sit with an accompanying person free of charge.
Further details on the new passenger rights legislation are available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/06/15/council-and-parliament-reach-landmark-agreement-on-stronger-eu-air-passenger-rights/
