Three-Hour Compensation Threshold Remains: New EU Air Passenger Rights Coming

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the long-awaited reform of air passenger rights on June 15, 2026. The most important message for Hungarian travelers is that the basic logic of compensation after delays remains unchanged: an arrival delay exceeding three hours remains the key threshold, while airlines must inform affected passengers more quickly and transparently.

This decision is particularly important in the middle of the summer travel season, as the majority of Hungarian passengers travel via European airports, and many choose low-cost or connecting flights. A late-evening flight cancellation, a multi-hour connection slip, or a disputed baggage fee could have represented a significant financial and organizational burden until now. The goal of the new compromise is to make the current EU261 system more understandable in several points, and for complaint handling to work faster in practice, not just on paper.

The current agreement does not yet mean that all new rules will be applicable from one day to the next. Further formal steps are required for the final adoption and application of the legislation, and airlines and member states will need preparation time. From a traveler's perspective, however, it is a turning point: the main direction of the reform, debated for more than a decade, has now become clearer, and the greatest uncertainty surrounding the three-hour compensation threshold has significantly decreased.

Why was this agreement so important?

The EU air passenger rights system has been one of the most well-known European consumer protection tools since 2004. Its essence is that in certain cases, airline passengers are not left completely helpless if their flight is cancelled, significantly delayed, or if they are denied boarding. The rules apply to flights departing from the EU, as well as to many flights arriving in the EU operated by a Union airline.

However, the system has caused much debate over the last twenty years. Airlines argue that the regulation is too rigid in several points, while consumer protection organizations argue that the biggest problem is precisely that a significant portion of passengers do not receive the compensation or assistance they are entitled to. The current compromise attempts to create a balance in this tension: it does not dismantle the most important passenger protection elements, but provides more precise procedural rules for airlines as well.

This matters to Hungarian travelers because, besides Budapest, many depart from Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, or other regional airports. If, for example, someone flies for a holiday from Budapest airport, or chooses Vienna airport for a cheaper long-haul trip, the same EU principles can provide protection in case of delay or cancellation. The reform is therefore not an abstract Brussels legal technique, but a very practical travel issue.

The Three-Hour Rule Remains

The most important unchanged point is that an arrival delay exceeding three hours continues to be the basis for compensation, provided the cause of the delay falls within the airline's responsibility and is not an extraordinary circumstance. This is particularly important because in earlier stages of the negotiations, it was suggested that the compensation threshold for some flights could be raised to four, five, or six hours. This would have significantly restricted the actual possibility of claiming rights for many passengers.

Based on the agreement, compensation amounts remain fundamentally similar to the current system. For shorter flights of up to 1,500 kilometers, compensation can be 250 euros; for medium-distance or longer flights within the EU, 400 euros; and for most long-haul routes, 600 euros. It is important, however, that eligibility always depends on the specific situation: the length of the delay, the route, the operating airline, and whether the problem occurred due to an extraordinary circumstance.

In the case of flight cancellation, it remains a key issue how far in advance the passenger was notified before departure, what alternative route was offered, and how much the new arrival time differs from the original plan. According to the current agreement, compensation may be applicable even if the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, naturally taking detailed conditions into account.

Faster Information and Complaint Handling

One of the most common passenger complaints until now has been that airline information after a delay or cancellation is difficult to follow, and submitting a compensation claim is often a tedious and slow process. The reform attempts to improve this. According to the agreement, if a delay can establish a claim for compensation, the airline must inform passengers electronically about their rights and the method of application.

Based on the Council's presentation, airlines must send clear information within 96 hours following arrival regarding what rights the passenger may have and how to submit a claim. The company must immediately confirm receipt of the claim, and then within 30 days, either pay the compensation or reject the claim with a clear justification. This is useful for Hungarian passengers because it leaves less room for uncertain, months-long communication.

In practice, this does not mean that all disputes will automatically cease. There may still be disagreements about whether the cause of the delay was an extraordinary circumstance, or whether the airline took all reasonable measures. Nevertheless, it is an important step forward if the passenger does not have to hunt for the correct form themselves and is not left without an answer for weeks.

More Precise Rules for Assistance, Meals, and Accommodation

Alongside compensation, on-site assistance is at least as important. During a long delay, a passenger may need not only financial compensation but also food, drinks, internet, telephone access, overnight accommodation, and airport transfers. The agreement specifies these elements in more detail.

According to the planned new rules, in the event of a disruption, passengers must be provided with regular updates, meals after a specified waiting period, and communication options. If the journey can only be continued the next day or later, the airline must provide accommodation and the transfer between the airport and the accommodation. If it does not do so, the passenger may, under certain conditions, arrange this themselves and then request reimbursement of the necessary costs.

This is especially significant for those traveling with family, elderly relatives, or on connecting routes. During a cancellation in a summer peak period, it makes a difference whether the passenger only receives general information or actually knows what assistance they are entitled to, which invoices they must keep, and by what deadline they can expect an answer.

Hand Luggage, No-Show, and Family Seating

The reform is not only about delays. The agreement also touches upon several points that are daily traveler problems in the world of low-cost and dynamically priced tickets. One such point is the more transparent display of hand luggage. The rules aim to make it clearer at the beginning of the booking process exactly what luggage is included in the price, so that the passenger can more easily compare offers from different airlines.

Another significant change is the limitation of no-show clauses. These are rules based on which an airline could, in certain cases, cancel the return or subsequent leg if the passenger did not appear for the outbound or earlier leg. The agreement brings an important step forward in this area, according to consumer protection organizations, as it can reduce situations where a passenger loses their entire remaining journey due to a single missed leg.

For families and passengers requiring special assistance, it is also important that the agreement reinforces rights related to sitting together. The goal is that young children, passengers with reduced mobility, and their companions are not unjustifiably separated, and that they do not have to automatically pay an extra fee to ensure the journey is safe and realistic.

What should a Hungarian traveler do in case of delay or cancellation?

Until the final application of the reform, it is worth thinking according to the current EU261 principles. The first step is always to preserve evidence: boarding pass, booking confirmation, messages about delay or cancellation, new route, invoices for meals, accommodation, or transport. If the airline provides verbal information, it is advisable to request written confirmation, or at least record the time and the essence of the information provided.

As a second step, it is worth checking whether the flight departed from the EU, or in the case of a flight arriving in the EU, whether it was operated by a Union airline. This determines whether EU air passenger rights are directly applicable. As a third step, the passenger should submit the claim through the airline's official complaint portal, rather than trying through social media or general customer service messages.

Those who have previously read our summary of changes to EU passenger rights should treat the current agreement as an update: after the previous reform debate, it is now much more concrete how the regulation may conclude. The essence is not that every flight delay automatically earns money, but that the passenger has a clear procedure, deadline, and documented right.

Why does this matter for tourism?

Air passenger rights are not just legal details. Tourism is a market of trust: a passenger will book a city visit, a beach holiday, or a connecting long-haul trip more confidently if they know that in the event of a disruption, they will not be left alone. This is particularly important for the Hungarian market, where price sensitivity is high, many organize their holidays months in advance, and a cancelled flight can easily overturn the entire travel budget.

For airlines, the predictability of the regulation is also important. If exceptions, complaint handling deadlines, and the conditions for assistance provided to passengers are clearer, there may be fewer misunderstandings and legal disputes. At the same time, the system will only be truly strong if the information is not only present in the legislation but also appears understandably in airport and online administration.

IATA, the international organization of airlines, has however expressed its disappointment, because according to it, the reform does not deal deeply enough with competitiveness and operational problems. The consumer protection side, including BEUC, emphasizes instead that the most important passenger protection elements remain and transparency can improve in several areas. This shows well that the compromise is not perfect for either side, but from the passengers' perspective, the preservation of the three-hour threshold is a key result.

Summary

The most important message of the June 15, 2026 agreement is simple: the EU is not dismantling one of the most well-known protections for air passengers. Compensation may still be granted after delays exceeding three hours that establish eligibility, while airlines must inform passengers more accurately, handle claims more quickly, and provide clearer assistance in the event of longer disruptions.

Hungarian travelers should watch the details of final adoption and application in the coming months, but the practical lesson is already clear: for every delay or cancellation, documents must be preserved, communication with the airline must be in writing, and one should not automatically give up on claiming rights. The reform will be truly valuable if passengers not only hear about their rights, but are also able to exercise them.