EU Council Agrees to Raise Airline Compensation⁢ Thresholds

Updated June 7, 2025

Airline passengers across Europe may soon see changes to their airline compensation rights for delayed ‍and cancelled flights. The EU Council has agreed to raise the thresholds for ⁣when airlines must compensate passengers, a move that follows intense lobbying⁤ from the airline industry.

Currently, EU rules allow passengers to claim between €250 and €600 if a flight is delayed by at least three hours, provided the delay is the airline’s fault. The agreed changes will increase the delay ⁤time required⁣ for ⁤compensation. For flights under 3,500 kilometers, compensation will only ⁢be due after a four-hour delay. Longer flights will require‍ a delay of at least six hours, compared to the current ⁣three-hour standard.

Under the new rules regarding flight delay compensation, a €300 compensation will apply for⁢ delays exceeding⁣ four hours. For flights longer than 3,500km delayed by ⁣more than‍ six hours, the compensation will be €500. In return, airlines will be expected ‍to streamline the compensation process, wich has often been criticized for being complex.

The Council’s agreement⁣ was reached despite opposition⁢ from germany and‍ Spain, bypassing discussions with⁢ the⁤ European Parliament through a rarely used legal process. the European Parliament can still propose changes within four months, requiring a majority of 361 MEPs to support them.

Compensation is not paid if delays ‍or cancellations result from “exceptional⁣ circumstances,” such as extreme weather, political instability, security risks, or air traffic control issues. Strikes, routine mechanical problems, and staff shortages ⁤typically do not fall under this‍ definition.

These⁢ rules apply to airlines registered in the ⁣EU or flights departing from an EU or Schengen zone country. While ⁢Brexit means the rules no longer⁤ apply to the UK, the British government has largely mirrored them in it’s own legislation.

Other existing rules remain unchanged, including those concerning flight cancellations and the airlines’ obligation to provide food, accommodation, and alternative⁤ travel for passengers affected by delays or cancellations. Airlines frequently enough provide refreshments, usually as food vouchers, to passengers experiencing delays.

Airlines argued that the current compensation payments are too high, especially for budget airlines where ⁤compensation‍ can ⁤exceed the ticket price. They also claimed difficulties in providing ⁣replacement aircraft and crew within three ⁣hours‍ in many European ‍locations, leading to further cancellations due to ‍incurred compensation costs. This led to the change in EU air passenger rights.

What’s next

The European Parliament has four⁢ months to raise any objections. If no objections are made, a date for the introduction of the new rules will be‍ set. The current rules will remain in affect for⁢ the upcoming summer holiday period.