A visual reminder of the proposed EU rule change, which could shift flight delay compensation eligibility from three hours to five.Credit : Shutterstock, izzuanroslan
Air travel in Europe might be about to become less passenger-friendly. At the moment, if your flight arrives three hours late or more, you can claim compensation from the airline.
Now, the European Union is considering changing that rule so that you’d only be entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed by five hours or more. It’s a proposal that has consumer groups worried, but it could bring major savings for the airlines.
From 3 to 5 hours: EU wants to revise flight delay compensation rules
The current regulation, known as EU 261, has been in place since 2005. Under these rules, passengers can receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on how far they’re travelling and how long they’ve been delayed. Because of growing air traffic over the last two decades, airlines have seen their compensation costs skyrocket to more than €3 billion a year. With no real drop in the number of late flights, the industry has been pushing hard for a change, and it seems the European Commission is listening. The revised plan would raise the delay threshold to five hours and introduce new compensation brackets tied to distance and delay time, leaving many travellers worried they’ll miss out on payments they’d currently be entitled to.
From the airlines’ perspective, these payouts feel unfair when delays can be caused by things like weather, airport congestion, or air traffic control strikes—issues they say are often beyond their control. Reducing the frequency of compensation would cut their overheads and, in theory, could allow them to invest in improving services. Critics, however, argue that reducing compensation does nothing to encourage airlines to be more punctual. Consumer groups fear this proposal will strip travellers of protections they’ve relied on for years, making it harder to get reimbursed for disrupted journeys.
Future of European Air travel: Adapting to new delay rules
The potential changes have sparked heated debate in Brussels, and discussions are expected to continue over the coming months. If the proposal moves forward, it will go through the European Parliament and the Council, both of which would have to sign off on the final text. Until then, the three-hour rule remains in place, so travellers experiencing a lengthy delay can still seek compensation. If you’re planning a trip, it might be wise to keep an eye on any updates to the regulation. For now, the future of air passenger rights hangs in the balance, and the outcome could reshape how airlines handle delays for millions of people across Europe.
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