European Parliament Upholds Three-Hour Delay Rule for Flight Compensation

Brussels: The European Parliament has voted in plenary session to retain the existing three-hour threshold that allows air passengers to claim compensation for flight delays, rejecting proposals to extend the time limit.

The vote reflects a long-standing disagreement between the European Parliament and the 27 EU member states over reforms first proposed by the European Commission more than a decade ago. While the Commission had suggested changes to passenger rights rules, consensus has remained elusive.

Under current EU legislation in force since 2004, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to €250, depending on flight distance, if their flight is delayed by three hours or more. The European Parliament supports maintaining compensation levels in the range of €300 to €600, depending on the length of the flight.

By contrast, EU member states have been pushing to increase the delay threshold—particularly for short-haul flights. Last year, governments agreed to raise the compensation eligibility limit for short-haul flights to four hours, while also proposing to cap compensation at €500.

The Parliament has also reiterated that passengers should be entitled to a free cabin bag weighing up to seven kilograms. This comes amid ongoing disputes with airlines over hand luggage fees, with some carriers, including Ryanair, charging extra for larger cabin bags of up to 10 kilograms.

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