After 13 years of negotiations, EU lawmakers have agreed on a reform of EC261, preserving the core compensation framework for air passengers. The reform retains the 3-hour delay threshold and compensation levels ranging from €250 to €600, depending on flight distance. This decision comes after a series of aggressive proposals threatened to undermine passenger rights.

The Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) highlighted that the final compromise avoids the most damaging proposals, such as compensation cuts of up to 66% and a Franco-German plan to replace the existing system with flat payments of €200. APRA president Tomasz Pawliszyn stated, “Europe came dangerously close to the most severe rollback in the history of European consumer rights. Parliament deserves credit for preventing that from happening.”

Despite the preservation of current rights, APRA expressed disappointment over the lack of meaningful improvements for passengers. The association noted that whilst the framework remains intact, underlying challenges persist. “This outcome demonstrates that passenger rights are among Europe’s most valued consumer protections,” APRA stated, urging future discussions to address these ongoing issues.

Founded in 2017, APRA represents air passengers' interests and includes members such as AirHelp and EUclaim. The association continues to engage with European and national institutions to advocate for stronger passenger rights

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