EU Guidelines: Airlines Can’t Raise Ticket Prices After Sale or Refuse Compensations

Airlines issued fare price warning over strict EU rules

The European Commission has issued guidance on fare price hikes and cancelled flights

EU guidelines: airlines can’t raise ticket prices after sale or refuse compensations

Airlines cannot retroactively increase ticket prices or refuse compensation for cancelled flights solely because of higher fuel prices, the European Commission said Friday in new guidelines issued for the EU transport and tourism sectors.

EU bans airlines from adding fuel surcharges after ticket purchase

On 8 May 2026, the European Commission published a document providing guidance concerning EU rules applicable to the tourism sector amid the crisis in the Middle East. The notice specifically bans airlines from adding fuel surcharges post-ticket sales, despite Spanish low-cost airline Volotea’s recent actions. The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has had a big impact on the global tourism sector. Aside from tourists avoiding the region, the conflict has …