Unfavorable changes for passengers. It's about compensation for delayed flights

On June 5, the Council of the European Union decided on its position on changes to air passenger rights. The new regulations, which the EU wants to introduce in agreement with IATA, would standardize the method of paying compensation for delayed flights. Unfortunately, this will have consequences that are unfavorable for passengers themselves. If the reforms come into force, passengers will only be able to seek compensation after a four-hour delay ( currently three hours ). The amount of benefits will also change.

The European Union wants to make changes

The EU regulations established on 11 February 2024, which refer to common rules for compensation and assistance for passengers, for example in the event of a significant flight delay, may soon change. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament does not suit the airlines themselves, which are obliged to pay passengers the compensation due if the delay exceeds three hours. Although there are numerous exceptions to these conditions (compensation is not due if the delay occurred due to reasons beyond the carrier's control, such as weather breakdown or protests by air traffic controllers) , the airlines still incur huge costs as a result.

The International Air Transport Association IATA has been advocating for changes in this area for a long time. On June 5, 2025, the European Union agreed.

This is what the compensation system will look like

If the changes proposed by the EU finally come into force, passengers will be able to claim compensation of 300 euros for flights within the EU that were delayed by more than 4 hours. For flights over 3,500 km, the amount of compensation granted will be 500 euros, but only if the delay was 6 hours or more. "Currently, compensation ranges from 250 euros for routes up to 1,500 km to 400 euros for routes longer than 3,500 km and 600 euros for routes over 3,500 km with a delay of more than 3 hours," writes Rynek Lotniczy.

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