EU lawmakers are in the final stretch of negotiating reforms to EU passenger rights rules. Rushing through a flawed revision only drives up costs without addressing the real cause of most delays.
Final negotiations on EU air passenger rights are now coming to a head in Brussels, with Member States and the European Parliament locked in last‑stage talks.
For over two decades, the so-called EU261 rules – some of the most ambitious globally – have aimed to give travellers certainty when flights are delayed or cancelled. The principle is right and widely supported. The reality, however, tells a different story, as a lack of clarity in the regulation has led to countless legal cases, meaning reform was much needed.
The decisions now taken in the coming weeks will affect every traveller in Europe – and unless lawmakers are careful, the reform will end up sounding tough on paper while failing passengers in practice.
Penalised for reality: why the three-hour rule is backfiring on passengers
