EU member states and the European Parliament have still not reached a final compromise on the reform of EU passenger rights, leaving the long-running overhaul of compensation rules in limbo. Negotiators are now heading into the decisive phase, with a 15 June deadline that could determine whether the reform survives.
The core dispute is when passengers should be entitled to compensation for delays. Member states want to raise the threshold, with proposals discussed for four hours and, on long-haul flights, up to six hours, while lawmakers are insisting on the current three-hour rule. Germany is reported to be among the countries opposing any dilution of existing protections.
According to the reports, a possible landing zone would keep compensation at three hours, with payouts of 300, 400 and 600 euros depending on the length of the disruption or route, alongside extra information obligations for airlines. The European Parliament has made clear it does not want passenger rights weakened, and if no deal is found by mid-June, the reform effort could fail after more than a decade of debate.