compensation payments
EU Council Presidency considers new attempt for revised passenger rights
An Airbus from Laudamotion rolls on the taxiway to the runway. The passenger at the fourth window, however, gives the finger.
© Arnulf Hettrich / Imago Images
What rights do air travelers have in the event of a delay or cancellation? Almost ten years ago, the EU Commission presented a proposal for revised rules. But the EU countries could not agree. Now there could be new impetus in the negotiations.
Air travelers in the EU could have more rights in the future if their flight is delayed or canceled – but in certain cases fewer. As a Czech EU diplomat confirmed to the German Press Agency on Tuesday, the Czech EU Council Presidency is considering resuming suspended negotiations between the EU states on a 2013 legislative proposal on passenger rights in air transport.
At the time, the EU Commission had proposed extending the right of passengers to information, meals and compensation from the airlines. At the same time, however, it was also intended to limit the right to compensation for flights within the EU and short international flights of less than 3500 kilometers. According to the proposal, such compensation should only be possible after a delay of five hours – not three hours as previously.
The authority argued at the time that a three-hour period was often too short for airlines to fly in spare parts or aircraft. The current regulation therefore encourages the airlines to cancel flights – which is not in the interests of the passengers.
Another part of the proposal was that airlines would have to inform passengers in detail about the reasons for a delay no later than half an hour after the scheduled departure time. In addition, drinks and snacks would have to be offered after a delay of two hours – and not only after four. In addition, the EU Commission has defined the term “extraordinary circumstances” for the first time, which airlines often refer to in order to avoid compensation in the event of longer delays. What should also be new is that a passenger can also take a return flight if he has let the outbound flight expire.
The magazine “Politico” initially reported on the plans of the Czech Council Presidency. Because the EU states could not agree on a position, the negotiations were suspended years ago. The EU diplomat now emphasized that many countries are ready to work on the proposal again.
However, the negotiations could only be resumed if there was still enough time in the second half of the presidency – ie from October to December. If the EU states agree, they would still have to negotiate with the European Parliament. That set his position back in 2014.