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Europa English European Parliament Groups S&D
06.06.2025
Press Releases
Council weakens air passenger compensation rights in favour of airlines, S&Ds warn
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are not satisfied by many of the conditions in the revised EU legislation on air passengers' rights unblocked by the Council following 12 years of stalemate by EUmember states. According to the S&D Group, the compromise reached in the Council allows for airline companies to have longer delays with no compensation to passengers, contrary to the current rules. The Socialists and Democrats are convincedthat the rules in the air industry mus...
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are not satisfied by many of the conditions in the revised EU legislation on air passengers' rights unblocked by the Council following 12 years of stalemate by EUmember states. According to the S&D Group, the compromise reached in the Council allows for airline companies to have longer delays with no compensation to passengers, contrary to the current rules. The Socialists and Democrats are convincedthat the rules in the air industry must be updated. They also believe that an end should be put to the stalemate in the Council after the legislative proposal of the European Commission in 2013, but this should not come at people’s expense. The majority of flights are delayed by about three hours and, according to current rules,passengers are entitled to compensation varying from €250 to €600. The S&D Group feels thatthe new rules clearlyfavour airlines as compensation would only be paid if the delay is more than fourhours for journeys under 3500 km within the EU. Things are even worse for long-haul flights (journeys of over 3500 km) where passengers must suffer a delay of minimum 6 hours to be entitled to compensation. Mohammed Chahim, S&D vice-president for the Green Deal for Industry, Energy and Climate and Financing the Just Transition, said: Johan Danielsson, S&D coordinator in the European Parliament's committee on transport and tourism, said:
Errors and omissions excepted. As of: 06.06.2025