The European Union’s transportation ministers have struck a controversial deal that might represent a significant setback for air travelers’ rights. The proposed revision of the EU regulation on passenger rights, initially expected to enhance protection for consumers, appears to favor airlines over millions of passengers. According to legal expert Lucía Cegarra from Flightright, this proposal isn’t a reform; rather, it is a “massive selective rollback” that could remove up to 60% of current compensation claims.

Among the most debated changes are the broadened criteria for “extraordinary circumstances” and the reduction of the claims period to just six months.

The negotiation process has been described as chaotic and opaque, following 16 failed meetings and a weak political agreement that disregards passenger interests. Cegarra claims that airlines’ justifications for these changes are largely “propaganda based on unverifiable claims,” and their assertion that higher delay thresholds would diminish cancellations is seen as a fallacy.

Currently, costs related to passenger rights are minimal, usually around one euro per ticket, in stark contrast to the record profits of the airline industry. Nevertheless, the new proposal includes increases in compensation thresholds and significantly lowers economic compensation, which no longer accounts for inflation.

Among the more alarming changes are the higher thresholds for compensation, with refunds only available after a delay of 4 hours (or 6 for long-haul flights), effectively eliminating many claims. Compensation for long-distance flights would drop from 600 to 500 euros, while short and medium-haul flight compensation is set at 300 euros instead of prior levels. Claims would be limited as well, allowing only one compensation per trip, even in cases of multiple disruptions.

The expansion of “extraordinary circumstances” allows new justifications, such as technical failures or strikes, to exempt airlines from paying compensation. Legalizing delays, which the current regulation discouraged, provides a “blank check” to airlines by reducing consequences for punctuality failures.

Cegarra warns that this reform “eliminates airlines’ responsibility and leaves passengers vulnerable,” sending a clear message that reliability and traveling rights are now optional. The European community urges parliament to reject this proposal and advocate for passenger rights. “Europe must clearly side with consumers and strengthen, not weaken, their rights,” concludes Cegarra.