EU Parliament defends strong passenger rights as airlines warn of disproportionate impact

The European Parliament has adopted a strong position on the revision of EU air passenger rights rules (EU261), reaffirming its commitment to maintaining and strengthening existing protections for travellers. In a decisive plenary vote, MEPs rejected proposals from member states to dilute passenger rights, notably insisting on keeping the current three-hour delay threshold for compensation, preserving compensation levels of up to €600 depending on distance, and safeguarding the right to reimbursement, rerouting, and care in cases of delay, cancellation, or denied boarding.

Parliament also backed measures to simplify and strengthen enforcement, including mandatory pre-filled compensation forms, clearer definitions of “extraordinary circumstances,” free carriage of a personal item plus small hand luggage, and the right for families and passengers with reduced mobility to be seated together at no extra cost. Additional consumer-friendly provisions include banning fees for correcting name errors or checking in, and preserving the choice between digital and paper boarding passes.

While welcoming the Parliament’s ambition to enhance passenger protection, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has sharply criticised the outcome, warning that the revised EU261 risks placing a disproportionate burden on regional airlines. ERA argues that compensation levels can far exceed ticket prices on short regional routes, threatening the economic viability of airlines that provide essential year-round connectivity, often as the sole transport option for remote, island, and underserved regions. Given their smaller fleets, thinner margins, and limited operational flexibility, regional carriers fear that well-intentioned rules could ultimately reduce air links and undermine citizens’ freedom of movement.

The file now returns to the Council for second reading. If member states do not accept Parliament’s amendments, a conciliation process will follow, setting the stage for a high-stakes negotiation between passenger protection and the sustainability of Europe’s regional air connectivity.