EU plans to be controversial reform: Compensation only after five hours!

EU plans to be controversial reform: Compensation only after five hours!

Vienna, Österreich - The reform of the European Union's passenger rights is again the focus of the discussions. At a meeting of the EU Transport Minister in Luxembourg, a proposal from the EU Commission was discussed, which could bring significant changes for traveling passengers. According to information from vienna.at , the Commission plans that passengers are only entitled to compensation after a delay of four to six hours. This would be a amendment of the existing regulation that takes effect after three hours.

The proposal stipulates that the four-hour rule applies to distances of up to 3,500 kilometers, while a period of six hours is provided for longer flights. A majority of the Minister of Transport supports this draft, which is based on a proposal from 2013. Previously, the EU had planned to increase the threshold for flights that are subject to compensation for five hours for shorter routes and for up to twelve hours for long -haul flights.

resistance and consumer rights

The European Parliament, whose approval is required for the reform, will probably discuss the proposal in autumn. Resistance is already indicated. The FDP-European MP Jan-Christoph Oetjen has spoken out for maintaining the three-hour specification. The CDU European MP Jens Gieseke also emphasizes that the parliament will not accept the existing status quo.

Consumer protection officers warn of the consequences of an increase to five hours: According to sueddeutsche.de , 80 percent of the passengers affected by passengers would no longer receive compensation. Jutta Gurkmann from the Federal Association of Consumer Centers criticizes the reform proposal and describes it as "imposition".

criticism and alternatives

Just in a year in which EuroControl warns of a delay chaos in the summer months, the topicality of the debate is high. In the summer of 2024, only 65 percent of the flights were on time. The reasons for the delays include lack of staff, especially for air traffic controllers. The industry association "Airlines for Europe" (A4E) pleads for a longer period of time to provide replacement flights.

Currently the compensation amount is delays of three hours:

• 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 kilometers
• 400 euros for flights up to 3,500 kilometers
• 600 euros for long -haul flights from 3,500 kilometers

The new regulation would provide compensation claims from five hours, nine hours and twelve hours. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig is committed to consumer rights and rejects the planned increase in threshold values. Your counter-proposal provides for the three-hour rule with a flat-rate compensation of 300 euros. This argument could also have direct consequences for passenger rights portals such as Airhelp and Flightright, which play an important role in supporting travelers.

The EU countries are now required to find an agreement and to clarify this as part of the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament. It remains to be seen whether the proposal is passed in its current form or whether adjustments are necessary. Further negotiations are scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Brussels after no majority could be reached today, as t-online.de .