Air travel: EU-wide agreement on compensation; the three-hour threshold for delays remains in place
An agreement has been reached at EU level on the regulation concerning passenger rights. The airlines had asked for the threshold to be raised to 4–5 hours
by Mara Monti
The European Council has reached an agreement on the reform of the regulation on air passenger rights. The text has received “broad support” from Member States and is due to be approved by MEPs by Monday. “It has been a very difficult process,” admits a European diplomat. The text was approved by the Member States, with two voting against (Spain and Latvia) and two abstaining (Austria and Finland).
The most hotly debated issue concerned compensation for delays, where the text retains the three-hour ‘status quo’. The airlines had asked for this to be increased to between four and five hours and for a distinction to be made between medium- and long-haul flights, complaining that the $8 billion in compensation paid out each year was a heavy burden on their balance sheets.
The agreement reached on the text “is very pragmatic”. For example, if you’re travelling with a child, “there’s no charge for them to sit next to you”, or if you’re travelling with a pushchair, “you don’t have to check it in. You take the pushchair with you, take it to the aircraft door, leave it there and collect it on arrival. So small things that make a big difference to the public”. The source highlights that the main changes concern greater protection against no-show practices, particularly for people with reduced mobility, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, as well as safeguards against missing return flights due to missed outbound journeys.
Strengthened rights for people with specific needs, including priority assistance and re-routing, guaranteed seating alongside carers or family members, greater protection for mobility equipment, and compensation in the event of inadequate assistance.
Faster, better and fairer rebooking options that oblige airlines to actively seek alternative transport, including with other carriers, allowing passengers to arrange their own rebooking where necessary.
