Industry reaction has been mixed following the European Council and European Parliament’s update to EU air passenger rights (EU261).
The rules outline passenger rights in cases of flight delays, cancellations and denied boarding, including assistance such as meals and accommodation, rerouting or reimbursement, and financial compensation.
Airline associations react
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the reform failed to address operational realities and could lead to higher costs for passengers. It added that the changes introduced additional requirements without sufficient consideration of operational constraints.
The Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG), an international airline association that represents over 100 German and international airlines, also criticised the update.
“The compromise now reached contains only marginal changes, further increases the bureaucratic burden and serves neither the interests of passengers nor those of airlines,” said Michael Hoppe, Chairman and Executive Director of the association.
He said current timeframes left airlines with limited ability to arrange replacement aircraft in the event of serious delays. He added that, especially on medium- and long-haul routes, it was not possible to substitute flights or complete repairs within such short timeframes.
“EU261, which has now been agreed on, however, means greater complexity, additional bureaucracy, and rising costs. Worse still: the missed opportunity for reform further weakens the competitiveness of European air travel on the international level. As is well known, this leads to a further reduction in flight offerings with diminished connectivity and a shift in traffic,” added Hoppe.
GBTA welcomes reform
On the other hand, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has welcomed the reform, describing it as “long-awaited” and marking an important step in providing clarity for travellers, businesses and the wider travel ecosystem. It said the updated rules improved transparency around compensation and claims processes, while maintaining existing compensation levels for flight disruptions.
“It is a first step in the right direction,” said Fulvio Origo, Senior Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at GBTA. He encouraged EU policy-makers to maintain momentum around negotiations on the remaining passenger rights proposals.
