Photo source: European Commission (Audiovisual Service) / Photographer: Lukasz Kobus
The European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional political agreement on the Package Travel Directive (PTD), updating rules that govern traveler protection and the obligations of package travel organizers across the EU.
The agreement aims to strengthen consumer rights while providing legal certainty and flexibility for operators, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
“With cleaner and leaner rules, we are making life easier for both consumers and companies, most of which are SMEs,” said Henna Virkkunen, European Commission Executive Vice-President. “This is a successful step in the Commission’s simplification agenda.”
IMCO Chair Anna Cavazzini, Rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba and Shadow MEPs Arba Kokolari, Klara Dostalova, Denis Nesci, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Hanna Gedin with Commissioner Michael McGrath and Anne-Mette Lyhne Jensen, State Secretary of the Danish Ministry of Justice. Photo source: European Parliament / Photo © European Union (2025)
The Package Travel Directive applies to pre-arranged package holidays as well as combinations of travel services, including flights, accommodation, transfers, and excursions. It ensures a high level of protection for travelers, including in extraordinary circumstances such as crises or insolvencies, lessons drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic and high-profile company bankruptcies.
“Travel packages promise a smooth holiday experience, but crises have shown how fragile that promise can be,” said Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Consumer Protection. “These targeted amendments allow consumers to book with confidence under clearer, simpler, and crisis-proof rules.”

“Today’s agreement reinforces travelers’ rights in the EU,” said Alex Agius Saliba, Parliament rapporteur. “We introduced a complaint-handling mechanism with mandatory deadlines, ensured voucher rules are voluntary, and strengthened protection against insolvency. This is a good deal for consumers and businesses alike.”
The provisional agreement must now be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. Following entry into force, Member States will have 28 months to transpose the directive into national law and an additional 6 months to apply the new provisions.

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