IATA says the latest EU261 revisions still leave Europe’s passenger-rights regime misaligned with operational reality. The group argues the framework has not fixed structural flaws in delay handling or eased the cost burden on airlines, even as air traffic management disruptions have doubled over the past decade.
The complaint lands at a point where operators are already managing thin margins, rising disruption exposure and pressure on short- and long-haul economics. If lawmakers stop at incremental change, EU261 will keep shifting delay costs onto carriers without addressing the system causes behind them.