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Air passenger rights: strengthening protection for European travellers

20/03/2026
In brief

Benoît Cassart is calling for stronger air passenger rights: compensation from 3 hours' delay, free cabin baggage. He refuses to let competitiveness justify a rollback of rights and wants a European regulation that rebalances the power dynamic in favour of consumers.

As MEP Benoît Cassart said in an interview with Sudinfo on 9 March 2026, the protection of European travellers must remain a priority.

Today, the rules that citizens rely on must form a solid foundation. But they need to be strengthened and improved, putting the traveller at the centre of attention.

The goal is clear: to guarantee simple, concrete and accessible rights for all passengers. Among the proposals being championed:

  • compensation from 3 hours' delay, ranging from €300 to €600;

  • simplified procedures, with a common, pre-filled compensation form sent within 48 hours;

  • the right to bring one personal item and one piece of cabin baggage (100 cm and 7 kg) free of charge;

  • greater price transparency, with the removal of certain unjustified fees;

  • the choice between a digital or paper boarding pass;

  • better protection for vulnerable passengers, particularly people with reduced mobility, pregnant women and children under 14.

While a balance between passenger protection and the competitiveness of the aviation sector is necessary, this can under no circumstances justify a rollback of European citizens' rights.

If this reform succeeds, passenger rights will be better protected throughout Europe. With a directly applicable regulation, the goal is clear: to rebalance the power dynamic in favour of travellers. An agreement with the Council still needs to be reached.

See the interview in SudInfo

Automatically translated from French. Read the original