So, you're planning a trip across the pond this year. Honestly, I’ve got some good news and some "check your bank account" news for you. The airline travel news europe scene is basically a giant puzzle right now, with moving pieces involving new biometric gates, a bunch of airline mergers, and some surprisingly bold new laws that might actually make it easier to get your money back when things go sideways.
It’s a lot to keep track of.
Let's start with the immediate headache: January has been a bit of a mess. If you’ve been scrolling through Twitter or checking flight boards lately, you've probably seen the chaos at hubs like Dublin, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. We’re talking over 2,000 delays in just the last week. Winter storms are partly to blame—heavy snow and ice in the North Sea region have been throttling runway capacity—but there’s also a wave of strikes hitting the ground handling sector.
The Big Shake-up: Mergers and New Alliances
The biggest thing happening behind the scenes in airline travel news europe is the reshuffling of the "big kids" on the playground. If you’re a frequent flier with United or Lufthansa, you’re about to get a lot more options in Italy. ITA Airways—which is the phoenix that rose from the ashes of Alitalia—is officially being folded into the Lufthansa Group.
What does that mean for you?
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Well, by the first half of 2026, ITA is expected to fully join Star Alliance. If you have status with SkyTeam (Delta, Air France, KLM), you’re losing that Italian connection, but Star Alliance members are getting a massive new hub in Rome.
Then there’s the drama in Portugal. The government in Lisbon is currently trying to sell off a 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal. It’s like a high-stakes dating show where Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and IAG (the guys who own British Airways and Iberia) are all trying to win the rose. TAP is a huge deal because they basically own the market for flights between Europe and Brazil.
Why Your Carry-On Might Suddenly Be "Free" Again
Here is something that actually sounds like a win. For years, low-cost carriers have been nickeling and diming us for everything, even a backpack that fits under the seat. But the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee just voted on some reforms that could change the game.
They want to mandate that every traveler gets one personal item and one small piece of hand luggage (up to 7kg) for free. No more "gotcha" fees at the gate.
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But—and there's always a but—IATA (the big airline trade group) is already pushing back hard. They're calling these reforms "reckless," arguing that if they can't charge for bags, they’ll just hike the base ticket prices instead. It’s a classic "pick your poison" situation.
The New "Digital Border" is Finally Here
If you hate standing in line for passport control, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is something you need to know about. It officially started rolling out late last year, but it’s hitting full operational status by April 10, 2026.
Basically, the era of getting a cool ink stamp in your passport is ending.
Instead, you’ll have your face scanned and your fingerprints taken at a kiosk. It’s supposed to speed things up once the "growing pains" are over, but right now, it’s causing some bottlenecking at major airports. If you're a UK citizen or from another "third country" (like the US or Australia), expect a bit of a learning curve the first time you hit the border this year.
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And about ETIAS? That’s the €7 "travel authorization" everyone was worried about. The good news is the EU has pushed the mandatory start date to the end of 2026. So, for your summer 2026 vacation, you probably won't need to worry about it yet.
New Routes: Where You Can Fly Nonstop Now
Despite the operational headaches, airlines are launching some genuinely cool new routes. It feels like they're finally moving away from just the "Big Three" (London, Paris, Rome) and looking at places that used to require two layovers and a prayer.
- United Airlines is launching Newark to Santiago de Compostela. This is huge if you're planning to walk the Camino de Santiago.
- Delta is adding New York (JFK) to Olbia in Sardinia. If you want those crystal-clear Mediterranean waters without the crowds of the Amalfi Coast, this is your ticket.
- Air Canada is jumping on the Sicily hype train with a new Montreal to Catania route.
- Alaska Airlines is making a massive move into Europe, launching Seattle to Rome, London, and Reykjavik.
Your Rights: The "Pre-Filled" Compensation Era
Maybe the most helpful bit of airline travel news europe is the update to EU261. This is the law that says if your flight is delayed by more than three hours, you might be entitled to up to €600.
The new proposal would require airlines to send you a pre-filled compensation form within 48 hours of your flight being messed up. Honestly, it’s about time. Most people don't even know they're entitled to money, or they get intimidated by the paperwork. If this passes, the airline basically has to admit they owe you and make it easy to claim it.
Actionable Steps for Your 2026 European Trip
If you’re booking a flight in the next few months, here’s how to handle the current landscape without losing your mind:
- Buffer your connections: With the EES biometric checks becoming mandatory in April, do not book a 45-minute layover in Paris or Frankfurt. You will miss your flight. Give yourself at least two hours.
- Monitor the ITA transition: If you’re a SkyTeam loyalist, check your flights to Italy carefully. You might find your lounge access or mileage earning disappearing as they move toward Star Alliance.
- Download the "AirHelp" or "FlightAware" apps: Since airlines are now being pressured to provide pre-filled forms, having your own data on exactly how long you were delayed is your best leverage.
- Watch the bag rules: Before you fly a budget carrier like Ryanair or easyJet, double-check if the "free 7kg bag" rule has actually been implemented by that specific airline yet. Don't assume the law is in effect until it's on your ticket.