On June 5, Council of the EU reached a political agreement on the revision of EU261. The text adopted as first reading notably includes:
- Extension of the delay threshold leading to compensation from 3 to 4 hours with a €300 compensation rate for journeys under 3,500 km and intra-EU journeys.
- Automatic reimbursement within 14 days from the date of departure.
- The obligation to offer re-routing at the earliest opportunity, including on other carriers’ flights or alternative transport modes and the right of self-rerouting for passengers after three hours with a possibility for reimbursement of up to 400 per cent of the price ticket.
- A comprehensive list of situations which can be considered as extraordinary circumstances as long as carriers can prove that they could not have been avoided even if the air carrier had taken all reasonable measures.
- No exemption for PSO flights.
- The adoption of definitions for the personal item and hand baggage, and the adoption of standard dimensions for the personal item of maximum 40x30x15cm or on condition that it fits under the front seat.
Please find here ERA’s press release on the Council’s text.
The European Parliament now has a maximum of four months (three, extendable by one month) to examine the text and adopt a position. It can either adopt the text of the Council, amend it or reject it. In case the Parliament adopts amendments, those will be reviewed again by the Council.
In case they still cannot reach an agreement, a third reading period will last 6 weeks.
Work within the European Parliament resume on June 17, and MEPs will debate on the latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations. However, no vote will occur on that occasion.
Alongside, on 23 and 24 June, the TRAN Committee will vote on entering into negotiations on the 2023 proposals