Air passengers will continue to be entitled to compensation for flight delays of 3 hours or more, after dpa learned representatives from EU member states conceded in European Parliament negotiations.
That means passengers remain entitled to compensation for flight delays of 3 hours or more, say sources involved in the talks.
The level of compensation will also remain unchanged, contrary to what member states had long demanded. Formal approval by EU lawmakers is still outstanding but could follow as soon as on Monday.
Talks are ongoing over compensation for delays as well as greater clarity when it comes to price comparisons.
German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig says there was "major progress in the ambassadors' committee in Brussels on the new regulation of air passenger rights."
The core of the agreement, she said, was that "consumers should continue to be entitled to compensation for delays of three hours or more."
The compromise contains several concrete improvements for consumers, Hubig says.
In particular, price comparisons for carry-on luggage are to be made easier and passengers are to be better informed about their rights.
Representatives of the European Parliament and member states have been negotiating a reform for some time.
Last year, member states demanded that compensation only be granted for delays of four hours or more. EU lawmakers, by contrast, wanted to retain the three-hour threshold and continue to scale the level of compensation by distance.
Airline must be at fault
If the compromise is adopted, the following compensation amounts will remain in place:
- €250 ($290) for distances up to 1,500 kilometres
- €400 for distances up to 3,500 km
- €600 for distances of more than 3,500 km
In each case, the airline must be at fault for the delay. The reform will also set out what constitutes extraordinary circumstances in which the airline is not liable.
The rules apply to flights operated by EU airlines and to those of non-EU carriers departing from within the EU.
Negotiators from the European Parliament are due to meet in Strasbourg on Monday to examine the text submitted by member states, a spokesman says.
The final decision will then be made. The deadline expires on Monday night. If no compromise is reached by midnight, the reform proposed by the European Commission in 2013 would fail.
The reform also aims to establish rules on carry-on luggage, seat reservations for families and costs when a flight segment is not used. Several rulings by the European Court of Justice are to be taken into account.
The EU's current air passenger rules have been in force essentially since 2004.
