Passenger rights law remains “suspended” - EU lawmakers under pressure from aviation industry
European lawmakers failed to agree on a controversial law on air passenger rights during recent talks. The process, which has dragged on for over a decade, will now move to mediation under the incoming Cypriot EU Presidency.
EU law to boost passenger protection has been in the works for 11 years, but lawmakers have been under intense pressure from the aviation industry, which has hindered progress.
Among the provisions of the bill, passengers should not have to pay for hand luggage and receive financial compensation if their flights are delayed by more than three hours, a key demand of the European Parliament.
But in previous negotiations, EU member states, represented by the European Council, tried to raise the threshold for compensation from three to four hours, signaling a lack of consensus among lawmakers. Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain were among the countries opposed to the change.
Consumer groups argue that charging for hand luggage is illegal, especially in the forms pursued by low-cost airlines, and that air travelers should be entitled to compensation for delays.
On the other hand, airlines claim that the burden imposed by the bill would significantly hinder their ability to compete in the market. They say that if the sector is forced to implement stricter rules on compensation and finance, ticket prices will inevitably increase.
Currently, air travelers in Europe are entitled to compensation of between €250 and €600 if a flight is canceled or delayed by more than three hours.
The draft bill suggested that airlines would have to pay between €300 and €600, depending on the distance, while Parliament considered the three-hour threshold non-negotiable.
The draft text also aimed to ban hand luggage fees, giving passengers the right to one free personal item measuring 40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm and one small piece of wheeled luggage with total dimensions of up to 100 cm and weighing up to 7 kg.
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