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EU to debate raising flight delay threshold for compensation

Transport ministers meet Thursday to decide if extended wait times will ease airline scheduling at the cost of passengers’ compensation rights

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Overview

  • EU Commission has proposed raising the minimum delay for passenger compensation from three hours to between five and twelve hours.
  • German aviation lobby BDL argues longer deadlines would allow airlines to deploy replacement aircraft more effectively and cut cancellations.
  • Consumer protection groups and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig warn the proposal could reduce compensation claims by about 80 percent.
  • Germany has launched an online portal to streamline new and existing compensation claims under current EU regulations.
  • Any changes approved by transport ministers this week must still be ratified by the EU Parliament before taking effect.