Flight delays in Tuscany: current EU rules and what is changing for travelers

June 16, 2026 — If your flight to Tuscany is delayed, there are two things to understand. Some EU passenger rights already apply today. Other changes have been agreed at European level but still need to formally enter into force.

For travelers, the most important rule remains practical: if you arrive at your final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, you may have the right to compensation.

This matters if you are flying to Florence Airport or Pisa Airport and then continuing to Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, Chianti, Val d’Orcia, the Tuscan coast or a countryside hotel. In Tuscany, the airport is often only the first step of the trip.

This guide explains what you can already do today if your flight is delayed, and what is expected to change under the revised EU air passenger rights rules.

What already applies today

The current EU air passenger rights rules are still valid.

This means passengers can already claim compensation in many cases after a cancellation or a delay of three hours or more at the final destination.

The compensation amounts also remain the same for now: €250, €400 or €600, depending on the distance of the flight.

So, if your flight is delayed today, you do not need to wait for the new reform to act. You can already check your rights, keep your documents and file a claim with the airline if the conditions are met.

The airline may refuse compensation if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside its control. This can include situations such as severe weather, some air traffic control decisions or major security risks. The airline, however, should be able to explain the reason.

What is changing under the new EU agreement

The European Union has reached a political agreement to revise air passenger rights rules. This is important, but it does not mean that all the new rules are already active today.

The agreement still needs formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council. After adoption and publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, the revised rules will apply after 12 months.

The main expected changes are:

• airlines will have to give passengers clearer information about their rights;
• airlines will have to explain how to claim compensation within 96 hours after a disruption;
• rules on extraordinary circumstances will become clearer;
• ticket prices and hand luggage costs should become easier to compare;
• passengers who miss the outbound flight should not automatically lose the right to use the return flight;
• passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities should receive better protection.

For travelers, the biggest practical improvement is clarity. Many people do not claim compensation because they do not know where to start. The new rules should make it easier to understand what to do after a delay or cancellation.

The three-hour rule: arrival time is what matters

The key detail is not when your flight leaves, but when you actually arrive.

If you reach your final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, you may have the right to compensation.

This is already the rule travelers should use today.

A flight can leave late and recover some time in the air. It can also depart with a smaller delay and arrive much later because of airport congestion, operational problems or waiting time before landing.

For travelers, the practical check is simple: compare the scheduled arrival time with the actual arrival time at your final destination.

How much compensation can you receive today?

The amount depends on the distance of the flight, not on how much you paid for the ticket.

This means that even a low-cost ticket can give you the right to compensation if the conditions are met.

Type of flight	Compensation
Flights of less than 1,500 km	€250
Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km	€400
Flights above 3,500 km	€600

Many flights to Florence and Pisa from European cities fall into the first or second category. Long-haul travelers often reach Tuscany through another European airport, so the exact situation depends on the full itinerary and the ticket.

If you booked one single ticket with a connection, check the arrival time at your final destination on that ticket. If you booked separate tickets, the situation can be more complicated, especially if the first delay makes you miss the second flight.

Flying to Tuscany: why your arrival airport matters

Tuscany does not always start at Florence or Pisa Airport.

Read also: How to Get from Florence Airport to the City Center and How to Get from Pisa Airport to Florence

Many international travelers land in Rome Fiumicino, Bologna, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamo or Venice, and then continue to Florence, Siena, Lucca or the Tuscan countryside by train, bus or rental car.

This is where flight delays can become a real travel problem. If your flight arrives late in Rome Fiumicino and you have a train to Florence booked for the same evening, you may miss that connection. The same can happen if you land in Bologna and plan to continue to Florence by train, or if you arrive in Milan and still need to reach Tuscany later that day.

For this reason, do not look only at the flight arrival time. Look at the full journey. Check how much time you have between landing, collecting your luggage, leaving the airport and reaching your next train, bus or car rental office.

Compensation can help later, but it does not solve the immediate problem while you are still trying to reach your accommodation.

What to do now if your flight is delayed

If your flight to Tuscany is delayed, act as if you may need proof later.

You do not need to understand every detail of EU law at the airport. You need to document what happened.

• Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation.
• Take screenshots of airline messages, app notifications and airport screens.
• Keep receipts for meals, drinks, hotel stays or transfers paid because of the delay.
• Write down the real arrival time.
• Ask the airline for written information about the reason for the delay.

Use the airline’s official form to file your first claim.

If the airline does not provide assistance and you need to pay for reasonable expenses during a long wait, your receipts can be useful when asking for reimbursement.

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Car rentals, hotels and late arrivals in Tuscany

A delayed flight can be especially annoying if you planned to rent a car.

Car rental offices do not always stay open late. This is true even at airports, depending on the company and the booking conditions. If your flight is delayed, contact the rental company as soon as possible.

Do not assume they will automatically wait for you.

The same applies to hotels, apartments and countryside stays. Many agriturismi and smaller accommodations in Tuscany do not work like large city hotels. Some have limited check-in hours, and late arrival may need to be arranged in advance.

If your flight lands late in the evening, consider spending the first night in Florence or Pisa before driving to the countryside the next day. It may be less romantic than arriving directly in the Tuscan hills, but it can save you a lot of stress.

Read also: Renting a Car in Florence – The 2026 Complete Guide

Hand luggage and ticket prices: what is changing

Hand luggage is one of the points included in the new EU agreement.

This is especially relevant for travelers flying to Pisa or Florence with low-cost airlines. The fare shown at the beginning of the booking process may not include everything you need. A cabin trolley, seat selection, priority boarding and other extras can change the final price.

The revised rules aim to make it easier to compare fares and hand baggage rules across airlines and booking platforms.

This does not mean airlines will stop charging for extra services. The point is transparency: passengers should be able to understand the real cost before buying.

For now, the safest advice remains the same: before paying, check exactly what your fare includes.

A small personal item is not always the same as a cabin bag.

No-show policy: what is changing for return flights

Another expected change concerns no-show policies.

Under the revised rules, passengers who miss the outbound flight should not automatically lose the right to take the return flight. Airlines also should not charge an extra fee just to allow the passenger to board the return flight.

This can matter in real travel situations.

For example, you may miss the first flight because of a train delay, illness or another unexpected issue, but still want to use the return journey.

This is one of the points that belongs to the new agreement. Travelers should be careful and check when the revised rules formally enter into force before relying on it in a real case.

Passengers with reduced mobility

The revised EU rules also strengthen protection for passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities.

The new agreement includes better support during disruptions and stronger protection for essential mobility equipment. If mobility equipment is damaged, passengers should receive stronger protection, including the full cost of the equipment in the cases covered by the new rules.

This is not just a luggage issue. If a wheelchair or another mobility device is damaged, the passenger may lose independence during the trip.

For Tuscany, this can be especially important because many trips involve transfers, historic centers, hotels in smaller towns and countryside stays where mobility planning matters.

Before flying to Tuscany: practical advice

Passenger rights are useful, but planning is still your best protection.

Before booking a flight to Tuscany, check the airport, the arrival time and the next step of the trip.

• Will there still be a train or bus when you land?
• Can you pick up your rental car at that hour?
• Does your hotel accept late check-in?
• Are you continuing to a small town or countryside accommodation?
• Do you have children, several bags or limited mobility?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, avoid tight plans immediately after landing.

This is even more important in high season, during major events, or when staying outside Florence or Pisa. Last-minute transfers can be expensive, and late arrivals can make a simple trip much more complicated.

Where to check before filing a claim

Before relying on forums or incomplete information, start with official sources.

The European Commission has published information about the political agreement on revised air passenger rights. The Your Europe website explains the current EU air passenger rights rules. For flights departing from or arriving in Italy, ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, also provides information for passengers.

The airline that operated the flight should be the first place where you file a claim. Use the official form or complaint procedure indicated by the carrier.

If the airline does not answer clearly or refuses your request without a proper explanation, you can then check the national enforcement authority responsible for the case.

For a trip to Tuscany, the best strategy is simple: know which rules already apply, follow the new changes carefully, keep your documents and avoid planning connections that are too tight after landing.