New EU legislation will waive airfares for people accompanying disabled passengers if the companion’s presence is deemed required by the airline.

Updated passenger rights greenlit by MEPs last week (20 October) close a loophole allowing airlines to turn away passengers with reduced mobility.

Once approved, agreed changes mean airlines will allow disabled people the opportunity to travel with companions free of charge – if required for safety reasons – from 23 October 2027.

Ministers in the council had proposed alternative legislation that would allow airlines to collect taxes and charges for required companions. But in a win for disabled rights, negotiators for the European Parliament succeeded in insisting such charges be waived.

Rapporteur Matteo Ricci, an Italian MEP for the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), called the decision a “significant step forward” following the vote in Strasbourg.

This comes after a previous vote in July required airlines to fully cover the replacement of mishandled mobility equipment and allow people with disabilities or reduced mobility to sit next to their companions at no extra charge.

Companions not required by airlines must pay

Under new rules, passengers already travelling with an accompanying person not required by airlines – such as a personal assistant to help with their needs – will still need to pay for an extra ticket.

This was not made clear by Ricci who told reporters last week: “All people with disabilities or reduced mobility will have the right to have a companion traveling with them free of charge.”

In reality, the text adopted at plenary allows airlines to determine based on safety judgements whether or not companions of disabled people can travel for free.

So under new rules, many people with disabilities may not be able to bring companions free of charge.

“This leaves a gap for passengers who need personal assistance, but whose accompaniment is not required by the airline,” said Maltese S&D-group MEP Alex Agius Saliba. The co-chair of parliament’s disability group told EUobserver: “Their support needs are no less real, and the additional ticket can remain a financial barrier.”

Advocacy group the European Disability Forum (EDF) said when a provisional agreement was reached that updated enforcement of passenger rights offers “insufficient protection” for disabled passengers.

Disability rights whack-a-mole 

Daniel Casas, policy officer at the EDF, thinks new rules are a step in the right direction. 

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