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🇧🇪 Belgium /Economy & Trade

EU reaches agreement to maintain passenger rights for delayed flights

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The European Union has reached an agreement to maintain compensation rights for airline passengers experiencing flight delays.
  • Passengers will continue to be eligible for compensation if their flights are delayed by more than three hours.
  • Airlines must also simplify the claims process and inform passengers of their rights within four days of a delay.

European Union lawmakers have reached a crucial agreement to preserve the existing compensation scheme for airline passengers facing significant flight delays. The deal, struck in a conciliation committee between the 27 member states and the European Parliament, ensures that passengers whose flights are delayed by more than three hours will retain their right to compensation.

The European Parliament has resisted the proposals of the Commission and the Council all along.

— Kathleen Van BremptEuropean Parliament member Kathleen Van Brempt commenting on the Parliament's stance during negotiations.

This decision comes after years of debate over passenger rights. Initially, the European Commission proposed extending the delay threshold for compensation to five hours, while some member states argued for reducing the scheme due to rising costs for airlines. However, the European Parliament consistently opposed these changes, advocating for the protection of passenger entitlements.

After a decade of discussion, we have managed to avoid the worst.

— Agustin ReynaAgustin Reyna from the European consumer organization BEUC on the outcome of the negotiations.

Under the new agreement, the compensation amounts remain unchanged. Passengers are entitled to €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometers delayed by over three hours. For flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, the compensation is €400, with the same amount for flights over 3,500 kilometers delayed by three to four hours. Those experiencing delays of more than four hours on flights over 3,500 kilometers are eligible for €600.

It is a great pity.

— Kathleen Van BremptKathleen Van Brempt expressing disappointment about the lack of automatic compensation payouts.

Furthermore, airlines will be required to provide passengers with clearer information about their rights. Within four days of a delay, carriers must inform passengers via email about their entitlements and how to submit a claim. Compensation must be paid or a justification for refusal provided within 14 days. While an automatic payout system, favored by the Parliament, was not implemented, the new rules aim to make the claims process more transparent and accessible, addressing concerns that many passengers are unaware of their rights or find the process too complicated.

Many passengers today do not know their rights or give up because the procedures are too complicated.

— Kathleen Van BremptKathleen Van Brempt explaining the challenges passengers face in claiming compensation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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