Written by Monika Kiss.
EU passenger rights regulations, covering compensation for denied boarding, cancellations, long delays, and protections for passengers with reduced mobility, addressed some of these issues, although enforcement and awareness remained limited.
In 2013, the European Commission proposed clarifying ‘extraordinary circumstances’, introducing rerouting rights after long delays, banning no-show penalties, improving tarmac delay handling and complaint procedures, while capping accommodation duties and standardising compensation thresholds. The European Parliament’s first-reading report added stronger protections, including a closed list of exceptions, higher accommodation limits, airport contact points, safeguards for passengers in cases of airline bankruptcy, and expanded baggage and accessibility rights. The Council’s 2025 first-reading position maintained rerouting and assistance rights, updated compensation thresholds to four hours for short flights and six hours for longer ones, clarified ‘extraordinary circumstances’, and tightened complaint-handling procedures. Parliament’s second-reading draft rejects higher delay thresholds, keeps compensation at between €300 and €600 by distance, increases free hand luggage, bans unfair ancillary charges, and extends claim deadlines.
Stakeholders, including consumer groups, disability organisations, and airlines, have expressed mixed reactions, with consumer advocates supporting stronger protections, and airlines warning of higher costs. The report is now scheduled for a plenary vote.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Revising air passenger rights: Where do we stand?‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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