The European Union’s rules for compensating passengers whose flights have been delayed or canceled may be revised—downward—under a plan that would change the 3-hour threshold for compensation to 5 hours, among other modifications.
Modifying the rules, commonly referred to as EU261, has been proposed by Poland, which currently holds the European Commission’s rotating presidency. The idea has drawn dismay from consumer groups and strong support from the airline industry.
EU261, in effect for 20 years now, requires compensation in the range of €250 to €600, depending on the distance of their flight and how long they have been delayed or if the flight was cancelled altogether. Airlines say the cost has risen to about €3 billion a year.
The revised plan would not only raise the delay threshold to five hours but would also create new compensation brackets based on extended flight distances and delay time.
If the Council votes to proceed with the plan, it would then have to be discussed and voted on in the European Parliament.
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay
