ERA warns EU lawmakers: Proposed EU261 revision threatens regional air connectivity

The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has urged Members of the European Parliament to reconsider key elements of the proposed revision to EU Regulation EC 261/2004 ahead of the Transport Committee’s vote, warning that the current draft could endanger vital regional air links across Europe.

ERA Director General Montserrat Barriga cautioned that increasing compensation to €300 for delays of three hours or more fails to reflect the realities of regional aviation. “For small airlines serving remote and island communities, that level of compensation can exceed the ticket price itself,” she said. “It risks punishing operators who are often the only transport option for essential travel, healthcare, and jobs.”

ERA President and DAT Group CEO Jesper Rungholm highlighted the unique challenges of regional operations, particularly in areas affected by harsh weather or limited airport facilities. “Passenger rights matter, but we must also protect the connectivity that sustains these communities,” he said. “We should focus on ensuring safe, reliable transport rather than penalising the very airlines that make it possible.”

KM Malta Airlines Executive Chairman David Curmi echoed those concerns, noting that for island nations, air travel is not a luxury but a necessity. “The current rules discourage airlines from operating delayed flights, even when that’s better for passengers than a cancellation,” he said.

ERA also criticised proposals to limit extraordinary circumstance exemptions to a single rotation, impose automatic reimbursements, restrict no-show policies, and enable self-rerouting of up to 400% of ticket value, saying these measures would add “unsustainable economic and administrative pressure” on smaller carriers.

The association concluded that while passenger protection remains essential, policymakers must also ensure regional airlines can continue connecting Europe’s remote and island communities.