Guide · updated 12 November 2026
Flight compensation in 2027: the new EU rules, amounts and deadlines
In 2026 the EU adopted changes to air passenger rights. The amounts and the three-hour threshold stay, but the deadlines change. Here is what applies today and what applies from late October 2027.
What stays the same
- compensation of €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, depending on distance
- the right to compensation when you arrive three or more hours late
- a choice between a refund and another flight when your flight is cancelled
- meals, calls and a hotel while you wait
A proposal to raise the threshold to four to six hours was not adopted.
What’s new
The changes come with Regulation (EU) 2026/2202. The main points for passengers:
- A nine-month deadline. Compensation claims generally have to be made within nine months of departure. Today the deadline is one to six years, depending on the country.
- An answer within 30 days. Airlines must decide on claims within 30 days and run a formal complaints process.
- A list of extraordinary circumstances. The regulation lists examples. The list isn’t exhaustive, so disputes over what counts will continue.
- Vouchers and rerouting. The rules on vouchers and alternative flights are more detailed.
When it applies
The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the EU in October 2026 and applies twelve months after it enters into force, which according to available sources is 23 October 2027. Until then the current rules and deadlines apply. For flights from Serbia the changes apply only once Serbia adopts them into its own law, and when that will happen isn’t known yet.
What it means for you
If you had a delay, cancellation or denied boarding in the last few years, check it now while the longer deadlines apply. How the new nine-month deadline will treat older flights depends on the transitional provisions, so don’t wait. For flights after October 2027, claim as soon as you’re back.
This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. We check every claim individually.