If you’ve ever sought compensation after a cancelled or delayed flight, you’ll know it’s not always the easiest process – so much so that many affected travellers put the task off entirely, opting to remember the highs of their escape instead.
However, a recent agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU has seen the first revision of EU air passenger rights in more than two decades. The new rules, announced by the European Commission on 15 June, clarify existing provisions and reinforce legal certainty for travellers, airlines, and authorities across the Union.
One of the many welcome elements of the announcement is the clarification and reinforcement of the rules and rights for air passengers affected by cancellations or delays of three hours or more.
Passengers are permitted to claim different amounts of compensation depending on the length of the journey: €250 for flights of less than 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and €600 for flights above 3,500 km. In addition, airlines must now proactively inform passengers within 96 hours of their rights and the procedure for claiming compensation, ensuring a smoother process all around.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, said: “Today’s agreement is a major step forward for European passengers and for Europe’s aviation sector. It delivers stronger and clearer passenger rights in practice, improves transparency, and brings legal certainty for airlines and authorities. We have found the right balance: preserving Europe’s world-leading passenger protection while creating a fair, predictable and workable framework for the aviation industry. This agreement demonstrates that Europe can deliver practical solutions that benefit citizens and businesses alike. I would like to thank the European Parliament, the Council and the Presidency for their commitment and determination in reaching this agreement.”
The revised agreement also reminds passengers affected by delays and/or cancellations that they’re entitled to refreshments every two hours of waiting time, a meal after three hours, and every five hours thereafter, and a free hotel stay, including transfers, where a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
The new rules apply to anyone: flying within the EU, on flights operated by either EU or non-EU airlines; arriving in the EU from a non-EU country on an EU airline; and departing from the EU to a non-EU country on either an EU or non-EU airline.
The Commission also announced that it will assess within three years whether the scope of the regulation could be revised and possibly extended fully to third-country operators. The full agreement can be accessed at consilium.europa.eu.
