EU Retains 3-Hour Flight Delay Compensation Amid Airline Pushback
The EU has updated its air passenger rights, retaining the three-hour flight delay compensation limit despite airline lobbying for a four-hour threshold. New rules mandate airlines inform passengers of rights within four days and display baggage costs upfront. Compensation for extraordinary circumstances remains exempt.
The European Union has revised its air passenger rights legislation, EU regulation 261, maintaining the existing three-hour limit for flight delay compensation despite significant pressure from airlines. This update comes over a decade after reforms were initially proposed to clarify the 2004 legislation.
Initially, the EU's 27 governments considered extending the compensation threshold to four hours, offering €300 at that point. However, the European Parliament successfully safeguarded the three-hour limit in the final overhaul. Airlines, including Ryanair and Aer Lingus, actively lobbied against retaining the three-hour limit, arguing it would lead to substantial costs, higher fares, and reduced viability for certain routes. A November 25, 2025, letter from three major trade associations representing the European airline industry warned transport ministers against concessions to passengers, stating a failure to extend the limit to four hours would weaken the sector.
Despite industry opposition, the updated rules will require airlines to notify passengers of their rights and provide clear compensation request instructions within four days of a delayed flight. Additionally, flight prices must clearly display carry-on baggage costs upfront, and airlines cannot deny boarding on a return leg if the outbound flight was missed. Compensation for delays due to extraordinary circumstances, such as adverse weather, remains exempt.