UK Government set to scrap flight compensation (EC 261/2004) for stranded British travellers

Consumer rights for British passengers will be weakened in the future as the government of the United Kingdom intends to change them. Under the EU rules (EC 261/2004 Flight Compensation Regulation), passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by over three hours or if they are denied boarding. The UK, forcibly due to Brexit, considers changing these rules.

Under the new government plans, the compensation will be offered based on ticket price and journey length. According to consumer watchdog Which?, passengers could see their refunds go from £220 (€260 *) to £57, saving airlines hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

“Ripping up current compensation rules for UK flights would be a huge blow for passenger rights and embolden airlines to act with impunity,” said Which? Travel editor Rory Boland to The London Economic.

“The government should reconsider these reforms and instead give passengers confidence that they will be protected when their journey is disrupted by giving the aviation regulator the powers it needs to crack down on airlines trying to flout the rules,” Boland added.

It should be noted that even after Brexit, EU Regulation EC 261/2004 remains valid for flights from a non-EU carrier that depart from an EU country airport.

* The EU 261/2004 compensation varies between €250 and €600 (£211 and £507) depending flight distance and delay