Poland, which has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union since January, has made this reform one of its priorities, according to Le Monde. The objective is to respond to the increase in legal actions brought by passengers over the past twenty years, as air traffic intensifies, particularly thanks to low-cost airlines. Airlines have been lobbying for years to obtain an overhaul of the system, and it seems that European institutions are beginning to listen.
Revised compensation the decline
Sebastian Loerke, representative of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) lobby, which includes companies such as Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and Ryanair, does not hide his enthusiasm: "This revision is something we have been waiting for for a long time and that we support with all our strength."
But on the side of the defenders of passenger rights, the tone is quite different. Karima Delli, former chair of the European Parliament's transport committee, is worried: "Passenger rights risk being really weakened."
Until Currently, compensation ranged from €250 to €600 depending on the flight distance. With the new draft, not only would the delay threshold be extended, but the compensation itself could be adjusted.
The European Commission, for example, proposes compensation of €250 for a flight delayed by more than five hours and 3,500 km or less. For a nine-hour delay on a flight of more than 3,500 km, the amount would rise to €400. Finally, for delays of more than twelve hours, it would be necessary to wait for a flight of more than 6,000 km to receive the full €600.
The European Parliament provides for similar amounts, but with some variations. For Karima Delli, these changes are primarily beneficial to airlines: "Most delays are between three and five hours," she emphasizes. In other words, the majority of passengers affected by a delay risk no longer receiving anything.
Beyond the question of the delay threshold, airlines are also dreaming of another change: better defining the "extraordinary circumstances" that justify compensation. Currently, it is often the courts that decide, and in many cases, the decisions are favorable to passengers. Airlines for Europe advocates for a precise and updated list. regularly updated, which could allow airlines to avoid certain compensation payments.
Behind this regulatory battle, there is also a question of money. The total amount of compensation reaches more than 3 billion euros per year, or even 4 billion according to some estimates. And in recent years, passengers have increasingly turned to collection agencies like Flightright or AirHelp, which take care of the procedures for a commission of 25 to 50%. These companies have enabled millions of travelers to win their cases, but they have also become a threat to the profitability of airlines.
The future of this reform will be decided in the coming months. Amendments to the bill must be tabled by March 25, before a vote in the European Parliament in June. The European Council, meanwhile, plans to refine its position on June 6 at a ministerial meeting. It remains to be seen whether passengers will come out on top in this negotiation, or whether airlines will be able to impose their conditions.
0 Comments