A package of reforms granting additional rights to air passengers was formally approved by the Council of the European Union. The new rules are to go into force in mid-2027. What are the new rules for air travel in Europe?  And will the US ever catch up?

• Children below 14 will have the right to sit next to their parents without seat reservation fees
• Pregnant people and those with reduced mobility will also be able to sit next to a travel companion without seat reservation fees
• Airlines will be obliged to correct false spellings of passenger names on tickets free of charge
• They will also be required to provide printed boarding passes to checked-in passengers at no extra cost
• Airlines, intermediaries and booking platforms will be required to display fares including cabin baggage by default to enable an easier price comparison
• Passengers who miss the outbound leg of a return ticket will be able to take the return flight with no penalty
• Passengers who are forced to travel in a lower class than booked will receive automatic refunds