Delayed Flights: Europe's Plan to Change Flight Compensation Rules
EU Member States seek to dilute Air Passenger Rights protections
In a recent development, EU countries have agreed to adjust the compensation rules for delayed flights, potentially leaving passengers in a lurch. The major change? Raising the threshold for compensation from the current three hours to as much as six hours for extended flights. Germany, advocating for stricter passenger rights, didn't back down but was outvoted.
The new regulations, if approved, will mean passengers will have to contend with longer delays to qualify for compensation. Specifically, flights under 3500 kilometers will require a four-hour delay, and long-haul flights will necessitate a delay of six hours or more. Germany proposed maintaining the three-hour threshold and boosting the compensation to €300, but the proposal fell by the wayside.
Airlines and their associations argue that it's challenging to secure a replacement aircraft and crew within three hours at numerous European destinations. As such, they propose a five-hour timeframe to be more reasonable. However, it's uncertain how many extra replacement flights might take place the same day under this extended deadline.
The changes are not final and will be discussed with the European Parliament. The reform, initially proposed by the European Commission in 2013, has taken twelve years to surface. Greece, France, and Sweden, among other countries, expressed a need for further negotiations but were willing to compromise.
The revised rules, based on the Commission's proposals, may undermine consumer protection, according to critics. With delays increasing to qualify for compensation, passengers may not be as protected as they once were. The European Parliament will now have the final say on whether these changes become law.
Sources: ntv.de, mpa/dpa/AFP
Categories:- Air Travel- Airlines- EU- Travel Rights- Consumer Protection
- The ongoing discussions in the European Parliament concerning the revised flight compensation rules could significantly impact employment policies within the airline industry, as the changes might affect staffing requirements and scheduling practices.
- As the new flight compensation rules are debated, policymakers must consider the financial implications for both airlines and passengers, especially when it comes to the costs of reimbursements and potential increases in business expenses.
- In light of the prolonged negotiations surrounding the reform of flight compensation policies, community members and consumer advocacy groups are closely monitoring the proceedings, expressing concerns about the potential weakening of general-news policies that protect travelers' rights, as well as the broader impacts on policy-and-legislation and politics in the EU.
