EU towards a reduction in compensation for air delays

You will need more hours of air flight delay to get compensation from airlines and the ceilings for reimbursements will be lower, with limits also in cases of re-routing for a cancelled flight. The European Union's Transport Council has decided on some changes to Regulation 261/2002 on air transport, which modifies the compensation mechanisms by making them more complicated. The text is now before the Europarliament. Launching the alarm is Codacons. "It is a folly that represents an immense gift for airlines and a huge damage for consumers," says the consumers' association, which says it is "ready for a legal battle to oppose the new rules". In particular, compensation for delays is reduced from €600 to €500, which is now set at three hours and will in future be between four and six hours depending on the length of the route. Not only that, limits are introduced on refunds for re-routing on other carriers in the event of flight cancellation.

The new text decided at European level clearly cuts passengers' rights and openly sides with the airlines, introducing greater protection for carriers - Codacons denounces - The most serious part is that relating to compensation for travellers in the event of air delays of more than 3 hours, which currently amounts to €600 depending on the route: compensation will not only be lower, up to a maximum of €500, but also more difficult to obtain, since it will only be triggered in the event of delays of more than 6 hours for flights over 3.500 kilometres, and only after 4 hours for flights under 3,500 kilometres. "This means," Codacons explains, "that a huge segment of passengers, while suffering enormous inconvenience, will remain cut off from compensation, with enormous economic advantages for the airlines.

The other critical issue is that of passenger assistance in the event of flight cancellation: if companies do not offer an alternative flight, consumers who independently purchase a connection to reach their destination will only be able to ask for a refund of up to 400% of the original cost of the ticket. Beyond the appearance of a high reimbursement, Codacons explains what actually happens in reality: "This means that those who bought a €30 low-cost flight will be able to ask for a maximum reimbursement of €150, despite having spent much more on the last minute purchase of an alternative flight".

For this reason, the consumers' association says it is ready for a legal battle 'to oppose the new rules under consideration by the EU in every forum, and will start a mobilisation in the European forum with the participation of all EU consumer associations to prevent the 'snatching' of users' rights'.