New EU law: Air passenger rights at risk – compensation only after five hours!

New EU law: Air passenger rights at risk – compensation only after five hours!

The EU is planning a comprehensive reform of air passenger rights, which could significantly restrict compensation claims in the event of delays in the future. According to information from Cosmo The current regulations, which have been in force since 2004, are of great importance for both passengers and airlines. Passengers are currently entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros for a delay of more than three hours, with the amount of compensation depending on the flight distance.

The planned reform stipulates that compensation will only be due for flights less than 1,500 km after a delay of five hours. Medium distances should only be eligible for compensation from nine hours and long-haul flights from twelve hours. Consumer advocates warn that these changes could eliminate around 80% of current compensation claims. A fundamental problem that emerges is the risk that airlines will deliberately accept delays in order to avoid compensation payments, which the German Consumer Center has criticized as irresponsible.

Political reactions and resistance

The German Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig is critical of the reform proposals. She emphasizes that consumer rights should not be limited in times of economic uncertainty. Their resistance reflects the sentiment of many passengers who fear for their rights. The aviation industry, on the other hand, represented by the lobby organization Airlines for Europe (A4E), welcomes the changes. They argue that the higher thresholds give airlines more leeway and promote profitability.

EU member states are currently deliberating their position on the proposed changes. An agreement is required before the reforms can come into force and the existing arrangements will continue to apply until a compromise is reached.

Current passenger rights at a glance

The Air Passenger Rights Regulation EC 261/2004 currently regulates the rights of airline customers in the EU. This regulation applies to all flights from EU airports, regardless of where the airline is based, and to flights from third countries to EU airports only on EU airlines. According to current regulations, passengers are entitled to the following compensation for arrival delays of more than three hours:

In addition, passengers are also entitled to certain assistance services, such as meals and hotel accommodation, depending on the length of the delay. A look back at the current regulations shows that consumer advocates and passengers are anxiously awaiting a new era of air passenger rights. The uncertainty about the upcoming changes and their impact on existing rights is creating a tense mood among travelers.