New EU passenger rights clear the final legislative hurdle on 13 July 2026 as member state ministers in Brussels approve the amendment to Regulation 261/2004, following the European Parliament’s 646-vote endorsement on 7 July. Operators must now adapt seat reservation systems to guarantee free adjacent seating for children under 14, pregnant passengers, and persons with mobility impairments alongside their companions, while banning fees for name corrections, printed boarding passes, and mandatory app installations for digital cards. Airlines must display total fares inclusive of hand luggage from the outset, allow return flights without prior outbound travel, and permit one small personal item free of charge. Compensation claims require submission within nine months of departure, with airlines obligated to respond within 30 days and cite rejection reasons. The rules enter force 12 months after adoption, likely mid-2027, leaving operators a narrow window to reconfigure booking portals and ground processes.