The European airline association Airlines for Europe (A4E) has again called for a reform of the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation (EU261). A4E argues that the current rules are unclear and non-transparent, thus undermining the original goal of minimizing flight delays and cancellations for passengers. Key demands include longer time windows before compensation payments to give airlines more time to restore operations after disruptions, with rapid rerouting of passengers taking priority over immediate compensation.
Another important point is the creation of a clear, non-exhaustive list of "extraordinary circumstances" to reduce legal ambiguity and the associated administrative burden. A4E cited a case in which the death of a co-pilot was controversially not considered an extraordinary circumstance under the current interpretation. Airlines emphasize that a reform of EU261 would not compromise their duty to care for passengers. Rather, it would help airlines restore operations more quickly, which ultimately serves the greatest interest of passengers: on-time arrivals.
The EU261 Regulation, in force since 2004, regulates the rights of air passengers in the event of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. Among other things, it provides for compensation payments for delays of more than three hours. Airlines have long argued that the current regulations would impose too high a financial burden. Consumer protection organizations, however, warn against a weakening of passenger rights. The European Commission proposed a revision of the regulation in 2013, but it has not yet been implemented.