EU Parliament and Council stall on passenger compensation reforms before June 15 deadline

European Parliament and Council negotiators are at an impasse over a revision of the EU's air passenger rights regime, with a June 15 deadline looming. Talks have stalled on proposed increases to compensation thresholds—extending eligibility to four‑hour delays for flights up to 3,500 km and six‑hour delays for longer trips—and on adding a seven‑kilogram carry‑on allowance and a ban on charging parents for seats beside their children.

The current scheme provides €250‑€600 for delays of three hours or more. The Parliament insists on higher payouts and the inclusion of luggage costs in ticket prices, while the Council is pushing to reduce compensation to as low as €200 and to treat certain technical issues as extraordinary circumstances, potentially exempting airlines from liability. The Association of Passenger Rights Advocates warned that the Council's proposals would curtail citizens' rights for the first time in the EU. If no agreement is reached, the existing rules will remain unchanged.

Stakeholders argue the reforms could significantly affect airline pricing and passenger protection across the single market, with the outcome to be decided within the next ten days.