EU Lawmakers Uphold Passenger Compensation Rights Amid Airline Tensions
The compromise keeps compensation at €250 to €600 after three-hour delays and adds family seating, baggage fee transparency and cabin bag pricing rules.
- On Friday, EU ambassadors approved a deal preserving the 3-hour flight delay compensation threshold, rejecting earlier proposals to raise it to four hours or cap payouts at €500.
- After thirteen years of negotiations delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and shifting priorities, member states opted to maintain the framework despite industry arguments that current rules are 'overly burdensome.'
- New rules ensure families sit together without extra fees and ban forcing passengers to download apps for boarding passes—a practice notably introduced by Ryanair—while requiring airlines to provide compensation claim instructions within 96 hours.
- EPP MEP Andrey Novakov stated, "The European Parliament promised passengers that their rights would not move backwards, and we didn't give up. Today." while ECR's Kosma ZBotowski highlighted "wins" including free family seating.
- The agreement requires formal sign-off by Monday before a plenary vote in July and takes effect in the second half of 2027, mandating carry-on baggage price transparency to address complaints about "drip pricing.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Compensation up to 600 euros, increased passenger protection and greater transparency in reservations
EU Lawmakers Uphold Passenger Compensation Rights Amid Airline Tensions
European lawmakers have agreed to maintain the current flight delay compensation threshold for airlines, ending a decade-long dispute. Despite initial proposals to reduce compensation values, consumer protection triumphed. Key points included airline fees for carry-on baggage, rules on travel with children, and mobile boarding pass policies.
EU lawmakers maintain compensation paid to passengers for flight delays
European lawmakers agreed on Monday to European Union member states' proposal to keep the current three-hour flight delay threshold for compensation in the EU's next set of airline passenger rights, ending a decade-long debate.
The European Parliament and the EU countries reached an agreement on Monday on a revision of the rules regarding air passenger rights in the bloc. Passengers retain their right to compensation if they experience a three-hour delay. Airlines must also display their ticket prices more transparently.
Free seating for families, more price transparency, compulsory compensation: Member States have established new passenger rights.
The regulation, ratified after 13 years of deadlock, imposes greater transparency on fares and maintains fines of up to €600 for cancellations. The EU maintains compensation for flight delays, but not free hand luggage.
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