EU negotiations on airline passenger rights and emissions rules

European Union officials are at an impasse over reforms to airline passenger rights. The main disputes centre on compensation thresholds for delayed flights—whether to extend the qualifying delay to four or five hours and increase payouts—and the requirement that cabin baggage be included in the cheapest fare without extra charges. A compromise proposal would allow airlines to offer cabin baggage free on basic tickets, while passengers could waive that right for a discount if they travel with a backpack only.

At the same time, the European Commission has taken legal action against Poland and Spain for failing to transpose the 2023 amendment to the EU emissions directive for aviation. The revised rules phase out free emission allowances, incorporate the ICAO CORSIA mechanism and require airlines to purchase emission reduction units. Both countries missed the 31 December 2023 deadline, prompting the Commission to refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice and seek financial penalties.