Contention Over EU Airline Passenger Rights as Compensation Rules Face Overhaul

The European Parliament voted to maintain a three-hour flight delay compensation threshold, opposing EU members' desire to increase it. The disagreement involves compensation amounts and cabin bag regulations. Negotiations are anticipated to finalize this significant revision of the EU's airline passenger rights.

In a pivotal vote, the European Parliament opted to maintain the current three-hour flight delay threshold for airline passenger compensation. This decision, made during a plenary session on Wednesday, also saw support for several amendments concerning carry-on items. The process now enters months of likely negotiations before any compromise becomes law.

The core of the debate lies between the European Parliament and the 27 EU member countries' differing views on passenger rights packages initially proposed by the European Commission over ten years ago. While EU countries agreed last year to extend the delay period to four hours for short-haul flights, the European Parliament insists on maintaining compensation at 300-600 euros, unlike the member states aiming for a maximum 500 euros.

Among other contested rules, the parliament affirms passengers' rights to carry a free cabin bag weighing up to 7 kilograms. This contrasts with airlines like Ryanair that charge extra for bags weighing up to 10 kilograms. Unchallenged rules ensure free seating arrangements for an adult next to a child or a person with reduced mobility, enhancing passenger comfort.

(With inputs from agencies.)