New EU Agreement Would Strengthen Enforcement of Passenger Rights Across All Modes of Transport

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a political agreement on the more effective enforcement of passenger rights, which may affect those traveling by plane, train, bus, coach, sea, or inland waterway vessels. The main message for Hungarian travelers is simple: this is not another complex rulebook, but a framework that would make complaints, refunds, and legal remedies more transparent when a trip does not go as planned.

The fresh EU agreement is important news at the start of the summer peak season because passengers today often deal with more than just one airline or railway company. Many purchase flight tickets through online travel agencies, comparison sites, or other intermediaries, and mixed itineraries are increasingly common for city visits: flying from Budapest or Vienna, followed by a train, bus, ferry, local transfer, or a separately booked connection. In such situations, rules alone are of little value if the passenger does not know who to complain to, which form to use, how long they can wait for their money, or which authority to turn to if the provider does not respond substantively.

According to a European Commission communication dated June 26, 2026, the new rules aim to ensure passengers are better informed of their rights in case of travel disruptions, can more easily request refunds or compensation using common forms, and receive clearer information on where to turn if the requested amount is not received. Furthermore, a Council briefing dated June 25, 2026, emphasizes that the agreement would strengthen oversight and complaint handling for all modes of transport, while paying special attention to passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility.

What exactly happened?

The current news does not mean that every ticket purchase and compensation rule will change overnight. The agreement is a preliminary political agreement that must still be approved by the Council and the European Parliament, followed by legal-linguistic review and formal adoption. According to the European Commission, the application of the regulation will be linked to the entry into force of the updated air passenger rights rules. This is a particularly important clarification, as summer travelers in 2026 must continue to follow the currently applicable rules and the current terms of the providers.

The essence of the agreement is practical: the EU is not just talking about what rights passengers have, but also about how these rights can actually be enforced. This difference matters a lot in everyday travel. In the case of a cancelled flight, a long delay, or a missing refund, it is not a theoretical question for the passenger whether some right exists; the question is whether they receive understandable information, whether they can submit a complaint without excessive administration, and whether there is an authority that actually monitors compliance with the rules.

One of the most important changes may come for flight tickets bought through intermediaries

A significant portion of Hungarian travelers do not book directly on the airline's website, but through an intermediary. This can be convenient, especially when comparing prices, departure times, or package options of several airlines. The problem begins when the flight is cancelled, the service is not realized, and the passenger is entitled to a refund. In such cases, it is often difficult to determine whether to wait for the airline, the booking platform, or both.

The new agreement would make this situation more orderly. According to the Commission, if a refund occurs through an intermediary, the intermediary cannot freely determine its own payment schedule: after receiving the money from the airline, it would have a maximum of seven days to complete the payment to the passenger. Based on the Council's communication, a full refund in case of cancellation should also include intermediary fees, and the passenger should be clearly informed during the booking process about which refund system applies to the given purchase.

This is not a minor technical detail. If someone, for example, booking various European flights on an online platform departing from Budapest Airport or Vienna Airport, often the time and transparency of administration after a cancellation determine how quickly they can make a new plan. The timing of the refunded money can influence whether the passenger can buy another ticket, rebook accommodation, or needs extra reserves for unexpected costs.

More uniform complaint forms and easier enforcement of rights

Another key element of the agreement is the introduction of common, standardized refund and compensation forms. According to the Council, these would be available throughout the EU, and passengers could submit their claims electronically or through other channels, such as by mail. The goal is to ensure that a complaint does not stall because the provider uses a hard-to-find form or because the passenger does not know what data they need to provide.

In the current system, passengers often encounter different interfaces, different deadlines, and hard-to-interpret responses depending on the provider. During a city visit, this can be particularly unpleasant because the problem rarely occurs at a single point. If the departing flight is delayed, the rail connection, the late evening transfer, the arrival at the hotel, and the next day's program can all be disrupted. In such cases, documentation is crucial: boarding passes, booking confirmations, notifications, invoices, screenshots, and correspondence with the provider can all help prove the claim later.

The role of national enforcement authorities would also be strengthened. According to the agreement, authorities should have appropriate powers to act effectively based on passenger complaints, inspections, investigations, and information exchanges. This is important because the enforcement of passenger rights today depends not only on what the regulation says, but also on how consistently member state authorities act against irregularities.

What does this mean for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility?

One of the most sensitive and important parts of the agreement is the protection of passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. According to the European Commission's information, if it is necessary for a passenger to travel with a companion for safety reasons in air transport, the airline may require the presence of a companion, but in this case, the companion should be transported free of charge. In practice, this could ease the financial burden that has so far deterred many families or persons traveling with assistants from certain trips.

The Council's previous communication on the air passenger rights agreement also indicates that the EU wants to clarify more broadly the rules related to assistance, re-routing, information, and the protection of passengers with special needs. From a tourism perspective, this is not insignificant. The attractiveness of a destination or airline is determined not only by price and schedule, but also by how much a passenger can rely on predictable help when traveling with mobility aids, a companion, children, or other special needs.

Why is this important for Hungarian travelers?

Many people depart directly from Budapest, but Vienna Airport is also an important alternative, especially for long-haul or rarer European routes. Those choosing between the two airports usually do not just look at the ticket price: departure time, luggage, connection, cost of the outbound journey, parking, transfer, and how much room for maneuver remains in case of delay are all important. The fresh EU agreement does not directly say which airport is worth choosing, but it points in the direction of making it easier for passengers to handle problems if the chosen route does not work out.

Before traveling, it is still worth checking departures and arrivals: for this, the Budapest live flight information or the Vienna Airport flight information can be useful. If it involves an early departure, a late evening arrival, or travel planned with children, it is also worth thinking through the airport transport to and from the airport in advance; the BUD airport transfer and taxi page in Budapest and the VIE transfer page in Vienna can provide a starting point for planning.

For Hungarian travelers, the greatest practical advantage is expected to be transparency. If the rules finally enter into force, it may be easier to understand what document is needed to submit a claim, what role the intermediary has, and according to what deadlines the amount must be refunded. This will not eliminate delays, cancellations, or overloaded customer services, but it can reduce the uncertainty that currently prolongs many disputed situations.

What should not be misunderstood?

It is important that the agreement is not an automatic promise of compensation for every delay or every inconvenience. Passenger rights continue to be subject to conditions: the mode of transport, the route, the length of the delay, the time of cancellation, the provider's responsibility, the existence of extraordinary circumstances, and the contract under which the passenger traveled are all factors. It does not follow from the fresh news that purchasing without an intermediary is always better, or that every online travel agency is risky. The point is rather that clearer and more accountable rules are needed even when using an intermediary.

A distinction must also be made between package tours and independently assembled trips. If someone purchases a travel package, other consumer protection rules may apply. If, however, they buy the flight ticket, train ticket, accommodation, and transfer separately, then the rights and responsibilities associated with each service must be examined separately. Therefore, for summer trips, it is still worth storing the most important bookings in one place, turning on notifications, and leaving a written trail as soon as possible in a disputed situation.

How should travelers prepare in the current transition period?

Since the agreement is not yet a final legislative application, the best strategy for summer 2026 travels is conscious preparation. It is worth checking whether the ticket is purchased directly from the provider or through an intermediary, and checking at the time of booking who handles the refund. It also does not hurt to pay special attention to whether the cheapest offer includes the necessary luggage, seat, re-routing options, or customer service access.

In case of delay or cancellation, it is advisable for the passenger to first follow the official information of the provider, then document every cost. If the airline, railway company, or other transport provider does not give a clear answer, the matter must be pursued in writing. The fresh EU direction specifically tries to address the problem of passengers getting lost among different forms, deadlines, and response practices.

Sources and next steps

The article is based on the European Commission communication of June 26, 2026, the Council of the European Union briefing of June 25, 2026, and EU passenger rights background material. The agreement must still be formally approved and adopted, therefore passengers should always check the currently applicable rules, the terms of the airline or transport provider, and official authority information before booking and departure.

Overall, the agreement could be a step in the right direction for those who, when traveling in Europe, want not only cheap tickets, but also more predictable administration and more understandable legal remedies. For Hungarian travelers, it should be viewed not as an immediate rule change, but as an upcoming, important consumer protection development.