New EU law: Passenger rights in danger-compensation only from five hours!

New EU law: Passenger rights in danger-compensation only from five hours!

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

The planned reform stipulates that compensation is only due for flights under 1,500 km from a delay of five hours. Average distances should only be worthy of compensation from nine hours and long -haul flights from twelve hours. Consumer advocates warn that these changes could eliminate around 80 % of the previous compensation claims. A fundamental problem that emerges is the risk that airlines will accept delays in order to avoid compensation payments, which is criticized by the consumer center Germany.

political reactions and resistance

The German Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig critically comments on the reform proposals. She emphasizes that consumer rights should not be restricted 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 lobbying organization Airlines for Europe (A4E), welcomes the changes. They argue that the higher thresholds give airlines more scope and promote economy.

The EU member states are currently in consultations about their position on the proposed changes. An agreement is required before the reforms can come into force and the existing regulations continue to apply until a compromise is achieved.

The current passenger rights at a glance

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

In addition, passengers also have claims for certain care services, such as meals and hotel accommodation, depending on the duration of the delay. A review of the current regulations shows that consumer advocates and passengers expect a new era of passenger rights with concern. The uncertainty about the upcoming changes and their effects on the existing rights ensures a tense mood among the travelers.