EU261 Reform Is Official: What Changes for Passengers in 2027
The EU has formally adopted the biggest update to its air passenger rights rules since 2004. The core right survives: you can still claim €250 to €600 when your flight arrives more than three hours late, is canceled at short notice, or you're denied boarding. Most of the changes don't apply until 23 October 2027, so any flight before then is covered by today's rules.
The short version
| Until 22 Oct 2027 | From 23 Oct 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Delay that triggers compensation | More than 3 hours at arrival | More than 3 hours at arrival |
| Compensation | €250, €400 or €600 | €250, €400 or €600 |
| Deadline to claim | Set by national law, varies by country | 9 months from departure |
| Airline's reply to your claim | No EU-wide deadline | Acknowledge right away, decide within 30 days |
| Extraordinary circumstances | Shaped mainly by court rulings | Defined in the law, with a list of examples |
| Hotel nights when the cause is extraordinary | No cap | Up to 3 nights (except passengers with specific needs) |
When the new rules take effect
The new law is Regulation (EU) 2026/2202. It amends EU261 rather than replacing it, and it also updates the EU rules on airline liability for baggage.
- 2 October 2026: published in the EU's Official Journal.
- 22 October 2026: formally enters into force.
- 23 October 2027: most of the new rules start applying to passengers.
If your flight is before 23 October 2027, nothing in this article changes your rights. Our EU261 guide still describes the rules that apply to you.
This is EU law, so it doesn't change UK261. Flights between the UK and the EU can be covered by both.
What stays the same
EU governments pushed for years to raise the delay threshold. The Council's position would have required four hours for shorter journeys and six for long-haul, with lower payouts. That didn't make it into the final text, which keeps compensation for:
- Arriving at your final destination more than three hours late
- A cancellation less than 14 days before departure, unless you're offered a reroute close to your original times
- Denied boarding
The amounts stay the same:
| Journey | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, or other journeys of 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| All other journeys | €600 |
Distance is measured to your final destination, not flight by flight. On the €600 tier, airlines can still cut the payment by 50% in some cases where you arrive no more than four hours late.
The burden of proof also stays with the airline. If it says a disruption wasn't its fault, it has to prove it.
What changes from October 2027
Airlines have to come to you
Within 96 hours of arrival after a delay that may qualify, the airline must contact you electronically with your rights and instructions for claiming. Today, most passengers never hear about compensation unless they go looking.
Once you claim, the airline must acknowledge it right away. Within 30 days, it must either pay or clearly explain why it's refusing. Compensation is paid by bank transfer by default, and a voucher is only allowed if you explicitly agree to it.
A nine-month deadline to claim
This is the change most likely to cost passengers money. Today, how long you have to claim depends on national law, and in several countries it's measured in years. Under the new rules, you'll generally need to claim within nine months of the departure date.
A written list of extraordinary circumstances
Airlines don't owe compensation when the cause is an extraordinary circumstance: an event outside their control that isn't part of normal operations. Until now, what counted was worked out largely in court.
The new law writes that definition into the regulation and adds a non-exhaustive list. It includes:
- Weather that makes flying unsafe
- Airspace closures
- Airport system failures
- Certain strikes, such as those at airports, air traffic control, or ground-handling companies the airline doesn't effectively choose
Two protections stay firm. The airline must prove the event directly caused your disruption and couldn't have been avoided with all reasonable measures. If it rejects your claim on these grounds, it must give you a clear, substantiated explanation.
Automatic refunds and real rerouting options
- Refunds become automatic. If you choose a refund, the airline must pay within seven days without you filing a separate request.
- Rerouting within three hours. If you want to travel as soon as possible, the airline must offer an alternative within three hours. That can include other airlines, other airports or other kinds of transport.
- Book it yourself if they don't. If no comparable reroute is offered in time, you can arrange your own and claim back necessary, reasonable costs up to 400% of your original ticket price.
Clearer care during long waits
The airline must provide refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours and every five hours after that, internet access, and two phone calls. If you need to stay overnight, it covers the hotel and transport.
There is one trade-off. When the cause is extraordinary, airlines can cap hotel stays at three nights. The cap doesn't apply to passengers with specific needs, such as people with reduced mobility, unaccompanied minors and pregnant travelers.
If you're stuck on the tarmac, the aircraft must generally go to a gate after two hours so you can get off, unless safety, security or similar reasons prevent it.
Missed connections
If a delay on one flight makes you miss a connection on the same booking, the airline operating the delayed flight is responsible for getting you to your final destination and looking after you on the way. If you book separate tickets, the seller must tell you upfront that these protections don't cover a missed connection.
Fewer surprise fees
- A personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm, or one that fits under the seat, must be free.
- Fares that include hand baggage must be shown by default before booking starts. Cheaper fares without it can still be offered.
- Airlines can't cancel your return flight because you skipped the outbound.
- Fixing a misspelled name must be free at least once if you ask at least 48 hours before departure.
- Adults traveling with a child under 14, or with a person with reduced mobility, must be able to sit next to them at no extra cost.
What this means for you right now
Flights before 23 October 2027 follow today's rules. That includes the national time limits for claiming, which are often longer than nine months.
Don't sit on old claims. If you had a long delay, cancellation or denied boarding in recent years, check it now. The current rules haven't changed, but records get harder to find the longer you wait, and waiting gets riskier once the nine-month limit applies.
Keep the paper trail. Save booking confirmations, boarding passes and any airline messages about the disruption. Under the new rules, airlines must tell you the cause as soon as they know it. Keep that message, because it matters if the airline later claims extraordinary circumstances. Our delay tips cover what else to save.
What to do next
- Check whether a flight qualifies. Our EU261 guide covers eligibility, distances and common airline defenses.
- File your claim. Follow our step-by-step claims guide.
- Not sure which past flights count? Airfairness can scan your email for past bookings, flag flights that may qualify, and handle the claim for you.
The full legal text is on EUR-Lex. The Council of the EU's summary of the agreement covers the main points in plain language.
