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European Parliament Poised to Block EU Bid to Weaken Air Passenger Payouts

Failure in the coming conciliation talks would leave the current three-hour regime untouched.

Overview

  • MEPs are set to vote today on their position, with key figures calling the three-hour compensation trigger a red line.
  • EU member states want compensation to start after four hours, or six hours on long-haul flights outside the EU, and to lower payout amounts.
  • Parliament backs keeping compensation largely at €300–€600 depending on distance, resisting cuts sought by governments.
  • MEPs propose added consumer safeguards, including one free carry-on plus a personal item capped at 7 kg and 100 cm, a ban on check-in and ticket-correction fees, a choice of paper or digital tickets, and free seating for children next to parents.
  • The Parliament also seeks to update ‘extraordinary circumstances’ rules to include unforeseeable strikes and to require regular Commission reviews, while member states push for broader exemptions.