European transport ministers have agreed plans to cut the amount of compensation airlines will have to pay delayed passengers.
If the European Parliament approves their proposed changes to EU216, it will mean fewer passengers will be able to claim compensation for delays, and the individual payouts for longer flights will be smaller.
Under current rules, passengers flying from the EU or to the EU on a European airline can claim €250 compensation for a short flight delayed three hours or more, €400 for a medium-haul flight delay, and €600 for a long-haul flight delayed by at least four hours.
Under the new proposals, airlines will only have to pay compensation for delays of at least four hours on short-haul flights – though the amount will be increased to €300 – and for delays of at least six hours on long-haul flights. Also, the maximum amount of compensation will be cut to €500.
According to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, most delays are for less than four hours, so under the new proposal, airlines will have to make significantly fewer payments.
“Given passengers flying in Europe so regularly suffer significant delays, it is really disappointing to see the EU planning to reduce penalties on airlines that fail to run an on time service,” said Rory Boland, Travel Editor of consumer publication Which? Travel.”
When the UK left the European Union, it adopted EU 261 into its own legislation, but this won’t automatically change following any updates agreed by the European Parliament.
“This could create confusion for travellers who face flight delays when holidaying in Europe as they will have to contend with two different sets of rules depending on whether they are flying with a UK or EU-based airline,” added Rory.
To further complicate matters, under the proposed new EU rules, delayed passengers whose airline fails to re-book them on the next available flight will be able to buy a new ticket on any other carrier and claim up to 400% of the cost of their original fare.
Under UK rules, airlines are required to re-route passengers on the next available flight, but this is not enforced.
