After 13 years of deadlock, EU negotiators have struck a deal on air passenger rights that protects Denmark-based travellers’ right to cash compensation after three-hour delays, but airlines warn ticket prices may rise as new obligations on rerouting and hand luggage kick in.
The compromise closes a political fight that began in 2013, when airlines and several member states first pushed to weaken Regulation 261/2004. That law gives passengers flying from any EU airport, including Copenhagen, Billund or Malmö, cash compensation of €250 to €600 when flights are delayed more than three hours, cancelled or overbooked. Airlines and transport ministers wanted to raise those thresholds to four or six hours, arguing that the current rules are too generous and invite frivolous claims.
Consumer groups and the European Parliament refused. In January 2026, MEPs voted 632 to 15 to keep the three-hour rule intact and rejected lowering compensation bands. Forbrugerrådet Tænk had warned that the Council’s weaker proposal would cost over 72,000 Danish passengers nearly DKK 200 million per year.
The deal keeps compensation but adds new obligations
The final agreement preserves compensation at three hours and maintains payout levels between €300 and €600 depending on distance. For expats in Denmark who fly regularly, that means the core protection you rely on when connections fail or weather cancels your flight home remains in place. Your nationality does not matter. The law covers anyone departing from an EU or EEA airport, regardless of passport.
But the new rules go further. Airlines will now be required to arrange rerouting within three hours of a disruption or let passengers rebook themselves and claim up to 400 percent of the original ticket price back. That applies whether you are trying to reach your family in the US or just getting to a work meeting in Berlin. If the airline cannot get you there, you can buy a new ticket on a competitor or even switch to train or bus if reasonable, then send the bill.
Hand luggage and claim forms get simpler
Another change targets the low-cost carrier baggage game. Airlines must now show ticket prices that include at least one extra piece of hand luggage, roughly seven kilograms, alongside the personal item. That transparency matters when you are comparing Ryanair, Wizz Air and SAS for a weekend trip or a visit back home during winter.
The revised regulation also standardises claim forms. Airlines must send pre-filled templates to affected passengers and respond within 14 days. Travellers will have up to one year to file. That shift should reduce the friction and long email chains that currently push many people to give up or pay third-party claims services to fight on their behalf.
Airlines say costs will rise
Danish industry association Dansk Luftfart has already warned that the package does not strike the right balance. Carriers argue that forcing them to include hand luggage in advertised fares undermines the unbundled pricing model that keeps base fares low. They also say the tight rerouting deadlines and potential 400 percent reimbursement liability will push up operating costs and ticket prices.
Whether that threat is real or negotiating theatre remains to be seen. European air travel is competitive, and travellers have proven willing to switch carriers over a few euros. But expats flying niche routes, such as seasonal links from regional Danish airports, may see those connections disappear if margins get squeezed further.
What this means for you
If you live in Denmark and fly often, keep documentation. Save boarding passes, booking confirmations and screenshots of delay announcements. If your flight is cancelled or severely delayed, the airline must offer meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation when needed. Under the new rules, if they fail to reroute you promptly, book your own alternative and claim the cost back.
Check the final text when it appears in the Official Journal, expected later this year. National enforcement in Denmark runs through Trafikstyrelsen, the civil aviation authority, if an airline stonewalls your claim. Consumer group Tænk publishes step-by-step guides and template letters in Danish.
The deal is a win for passengers who depend on strong rights when travel plans collapse. Airlines have successfully resisted harsher thresholds, but they have not escaped tighter obligations on transparency and service. For expats, that balance feels about right. Flying to or from Denmark will not get cheaper, but when things go wrong, you will still have leverage.
