Council agrees updated rules to strengthen air passenger rights

Article summary

The Council of the EU has adopted its position on the revision of the EU regulations on air passenger rights and airline liability, aiming to create a clearer and more robust framework for protecting passengers. Led by Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure of Poland, the Council’s agreement seeks to address longstanding gaps and ambiguities by introducing over 30 rights that apply from ticket purchase through to post-arrival. These include clarified entitlements to rerouting, assistance, compensation, and information. Passengers will have a right to rerouting via other carriers or alternative transport, and may claim up to 400% of the ticket cost if rerouting is not offered within three hours. Minimum assistance must be provided during delays, and disembarkation is mandated after three hours on the tarmac. Compensation levels have been revised based on journey length, with stricter criteria for rejecting claims on the basis of ‘extraordinary circumstances’. Enhanced information duties require airlines to notify passengers of their rights...