Co-legislators struck a deal on 15 June to update air passenger rights. The Parliament approved it on 7 July (646 to 12), and the Council on 13 July.
The Commission first proposed updating the rules in 2013, but negotiations failed due to differing views among co-legislators over the level of protection.
In June, the Parliament effectively won the battle by rejecting the Council’s attempt to water down protections. It kept most rights for flight disruptions while securing clearer reimbursement procedures, greater price transparency and a ban of no-show flights.
While airlines’ representatives consider it a missed opportunity, MEP Andrey Novakov of the European People’s Party and rapporteur on air passenger rights in the Parliament, said:
“We changed not only the rights, but the way we implement them. From having an improvement on paper, to receiving compensation in your pocket, we provide a procedure which is made to facilitate passengers to get compensation”.
