site.btaMEP Andrey Novakov Expects EU Talks on Air Passenger Rights to Conclude in December

Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov (GERB/EPP), the European Parliament’s rapporteur on air passenger rights, said Monday that negotiations with the Council of the EU on revising the existing regulations are expected to conclude in December. The Parliament’s position supports maintaining the right to compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, as well as the right to carry free hand luggage.

Novakov emphasized that free cabin baggage must be included in the ticket price and should not incur additional charges. He said it was unacceptable for baggage fees to exceed the ticket price itself.

The MEP also stressed that the Parliament opposes the abolition of paper boarding passes. The European Parliament is united and its members have their red lines that they will not cross, he said at a news conference ahead of the negotiations later in October.

Novakov added that under the proposed changes, parents should no longer have to pay extra to sit next to their children on flights, a measure MEPs hope will be included in the final version of the new rules.