EU Transport Ministers Delay Flight Compensation for Passengers
Enhancements in Air Passenger Entitlements: EU Considers Alterations to Compensation Demands - EU Contemplates Amendments to Compensation Rights
In the coming future, passengers may only be eligible for compensation after four hours of delay instead of the current three hours, as per the decisions made by EU member states. A majority of EU transport ministers agreed on this change at a meeting in Luxembourg, as reported by the German Press Agency from EU diplomatic circles. The European Parliament still has the power to make changes to the new rules.
The four-hour rule is intended to apply to distances up to 3500 kilometers. For longer flights, a six-hour deadline is planned.
The German government had advocated for passengers to continue receiving compensation after three hours of delay, with a flat rate of 300 euros. However, the change was not agreed upon at the meeting in Luxembourg, with Germany opposing the proposal. Consumer advocates warn that fewer passengers would be compensated if the rules are changed.
The New Compensation Rules
Under the proposed changes to the air passenger rights regulation, passengers would be entitled to a flat-rate compensation of 250 euros for flights up to 1500 km, 400 euros for flights up to 3500 km, and now 500 euros for long-haul flights over 3500 km, if the airline is responsible for the delay.
Survey Results on Flight Delay Compensation
The German lobby association BDL commissioned a survey by the Yougov institute among passengers. Under the condition that they still reach their destination on the same day, 73 percent of the surveyed passengers were willing to accept a compensation claim after five hours of delay.
Airlines and their associations argue that they are technically unable to provide a replacement aircraft with a crew at many destinations in Europe within three hours. In such cases, an additional flight may be cancelled because the high compensation payments have already been incurred. A five-hour deadline would be more appropriate, they contend. It is unclear exactly how many more replacement flights would take place on the same day with a five-hour rule.
Resistance Expected in the European Parliament
In principle, parliamentarians have a say in the matter and must also approve the new rules. Before the vote, FDP MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen stressed that the European Parliament already has a position, "and I see no reason to adjust this good position again." The European Parliament is expected to maintain the three-hour requirement. CDU MEP Jens Gieseke stressed: "As a parliament, we will not accept any deterioration of the status quo."
- EU
- Flight
- Compensation
- Delay
- European Parliament
- Airlines
Insights:
- The current air passenger rights regulation, in place since 2004, is set to see its first update, with new rights for air passengers being introduced, although some existing rights are being rolled back[2][5].
- The proposed changes to EU air travel regulations, as of June 2025, increase the delay threshold for compensation eligibility from three hours to four hours for flights under 3,500 km, and for longer flights (over 3,500 km), the threshold rises from four to six hours[1][4][5].
- Compensation amounts for short-haul flights will increase from €250 to €300, while long-haul flights will see a decrease from €600 to €500[4][5].
- There is opposition to these changes from consumer groups, who argue that few passengers would be compensated under the new rules, as most delays fall between two and four hours[2][3][5]. Furthermore, airlines are now allowed to charge for cabin baggage[2][5].
- The European Parliament is anticipated to voice resistance against the proposed changes in the air passenger rights regulation, as they aim to maintain the three-hour requirement for flight compensation in the face of a shift towards a four-hour delay threshold.
- The increased delay threshold for flight compensation eligibility, as part of the proposed changes to EU air travel regulations, is poised to affect the employment policy of airlines, potentially leading to adjustments in their finance and business strategies, given the implications for policy-and-legislation and politics.
- General news outlets have reported on the proposed changes to air passenger rights regulation, discussing the potential impact on the community policy, including the rights and protections of air travelers, and the potential consequences for airlines and their associations.
