EU only wants compensation for aviation passengers after 4 hours of delay: “monstrous plan”

If an aircraft on a flight of less than 3,500 kilometers would be delayed more than four hours, the stranded passenger would be entitled to 300 euros. On longer flights, a compensation of 500 euros would apply from delays of more than six hours.

European legislation is currently providing compensation from a three -hour delay if the airline fails. It concerns 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros for flights up to 3,500 kilometers and 600 euros for long -distance flights of more than 3,500 kilometers.

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Compromise

Germany wanted to keep the three -hour time span, but after hours of negotiations in Luxembourg, a qualified majority of the Member States turned out to be willing to align at four hours. Belgium also defended three hours, but showed itself willing to support the compromise provided that an automatic compensation would be provided that is an « essential condition for consumer protection ».

The Belgian minister Jean-Luc Crucke spoke after « an important step » forward. « Clear, honest and enforceable rules are essential in a sector with which millions of travelers have to deal with every year. Both for the passenger and for the carrier, it is important that the rights and obligations are clear, » he added in a press release.

Although this proposal entails an increase in waiting times for the right to compensation, a form of automatic payment of compensation for cancellation of a flight is also introduced in exchange, Crucke also confirms. The European Commission will carry out an effect assessment towards automatic compensation in the event of delays.

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“Holling of rights”

The EU has had legislation on passenger rights since 2004, but in practice it turned out that they were not always easy to enforce. Some provisions and definitions were not clear, which caused an unequal application of the rules and numerous disputes between passengers and the airlines.

Already in 2013 the committee had put an update of the rules on the table, but the Member States never agreed. The ministers had not even discussed the file since 2020. Poland, which this semester presents the European ministerial councils,, however, put his teeth in it and was able to force a breakthrough on Thursday. A compromise has to be found with the European Parliament.

Crucke counts on those so -called trilogue negotiations to improve the text and find a better balance, he says.

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The Association of Airlines for Europe, of which the parent company of Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa Group, and Ryanair are also members, responds to the compromise. « Instead of recording thresholds for delays of five and nine hours, the Member States weakened the original proposal from the European Commission and made it even more complicated, » says director Ourania Georgoutsakou. According to the lobby organization, higher thresholds would ensure that 70 percent fewer flights have to be canceled.

The European consumer organization Beuc, of which Teulkoop is a member, speaks of a erosion of certain passenger rights. For example, she emphasizes that most delays last between 2 and 4 hours today, and that most passengers will lose their right to compensation.

The Dutch Consumers’ Association and Claimbureau Euclaim call it in Algemeen Dagblad A « monstrous plan ». « The current regulation is a stimulus for companies to fly on time. It is now largely disappearing, » Joyce Donat of the Consumers’ Association says to the Dutch newspaper.