EU member states reach agreement on revision of air passenger rights

On Friday, the 27 EU member states reached a majority agreement on a proposal regarding the revision of air passenger rights. This update addresses regulations that have been in place since 2004, following an initial proposal submitted by the European Commission in 2013. The compromise maintains the existing criteria, including the entitlement to compensation for delays exceeding three hours and the compensation range of 250 to 600 euros based on flight distance. New regulations mandate that airlines must provide clear instructions to passengers regarding the compensation claim process within 96 hours of a flight cancellation or significant delay. Despite calls for more streamlined procedures, legislators decided against requiring airlines to provide pre-filled claim forms or direct links to such documents. A senior diplomat characterized the move as an effort to improve traveler awareness, noting that many currently fail to exercise their right to claim. The agreement is currently moving through the legislative process, with the European Parliament expected to respond to the proposal.