EU Proposes Major Overhaul of Passenger Delay Compensation Rules
The European Union is contemplating a significant overhaul of its compensation rules for delayed passengers, with airlines potentially standing to save up to 85 percent on current costs. The proposed changes, which aim to ease the financial burden on airlines like United Airlines and American Airlines, have sparked debate about their potential impact on consumer rights.
The EU is exploring the possibility of raising the compensation threshold for delays. Under the new proposals, passengers would only be entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by at least five hours, or twelve hours for long-haul flights. This marks a substantial increase from the current three-hour threshold for short-haul flights and four-hour threshold for long-haul flights.
Supporters of the change, such as A4E which includes Lufthansa, argue that the new regulation would help airlines manage their financial burden more effectively and make European airlines more competitive globally. However, consumer advocates like Jutta Gurkmann of VZBV caution against diluting the existing level of protection for air travelers. They fear that these changes could leave passengers worse off, with fewer rights in case of flight delays.
An analysis conducted by the German consumer protection organization Verbraucherzentrale in cooperation with the software company Lennoc estimates that airlines could save up to 85 percent of currently due compensations if these EU compensation rules were relaxed.
The coming months will be crucial for the future of air passenger rights in Europe. As the EU considers these changes, air passengers are urged to stay informed about the developments to ensure their rights remain protected. Consumer advocates warn that while the proposed changes may ease the financial burden on airlines, they could come at the expense of travelers' rights.
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