Lawmakers agreed to update air passenger rights on 15 June after thirteen years of negotiations. The deal adds new protections, including banning the no-show clause and clarifying compensation and reimbursement, and maintains current protections for flight disruptions.
For two decades, airlines have avoided paying, leaving €3.2 billionunclaimed. Airlines contested claims and refused compensation. Consumer groups noted lengthy procedures, unclear policies, and confusing websites. Rights enforcement became a frustration for passengers.
This gap allowed claims agencies to create a new business model, exposing the failure of EU rules to protect travellers effectively.
“This failure has driven the growth of claim agencies. Ideally, passengers should be able to obtain compensation directly and easily, without having to rely on intermediaries”, Kristína Gírethová, aviation and rail policy officer at the European Consumer Association (BEUC), explained.
Why passengers struggle to exercise their rights
