The European Parliament’s stance on revising EU air passenger rights rules has drawn sharp criticism from airline industry groups, who warn that the proposed changes risk increasing ticket prices, reducing connectivity, and weakening consumer choice across Europe.
Airlines for Europe, the European Regions Airline Association, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have jointly expressed concern after the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism voted to maintain its most stringent demands to overhaul EU261, the bloc’s air passenger rights regulation.
According to the industry groups, the decision ignores evidence suggesting that passengers prioritise choice, value for money, and punctuality over expanded compensation rights that ultimately raise costs for travellers.
The @EP_Transport is proposing damaging changes to EU261. At minimum it must
— IATA (@IATA) January 13, 2026
1️⃣ Conduct a robust impact assessment
2️⃣ Raise the compensation threshold above 3 hours
3️⃣ Understand operational realities, esp. regarding bags
See statement with A4E & ERA: https://t.co/34LXcfUDKV pic.twitter.com/k9nE5elYmh
Airlines warn of rising costs and reduced connectivity
EU261 already provides some of the strongest air passenger protections in the world, but airline representatives argue that it does so at a high cost. The regulation is estimated to cost airlines and passengers around €8.1 billion per year, with knock-on effects for fares and route viability, particularly on regional and peripheral routes.
The European Commission’s original intention in revising EU261 was to rebalance passenger protection while supporting a modern and competitive aviation network. Industry groups say the European Parliament’s current position moves in the opposite direction by adding further financial and operational burdens without addressing the main causes of disruption, such as infrastructure bottlenecks and air traffic management constraints.
One key point of contention is the threshold for flight delay compensation. Airline groups argue that the current three-hour threshold does not reflect operational realities, as it is often insufficient time to deploy replacement aircraft and crews. Raising the threshold, they say, would allow delayed flights to depart more quickly, ensuring passengers reach their destination rather than face cancellations.
They also criticise proposals related to carry-on luggage rules, warning that insufficient onboard capacity could lead to additional delays, heavier aircraft, and higher emissions. Concerns have also been raised about plans to introduce a non-exhaustive list of extraordinary circumstances, which airlines say fails to reflect the complexities of operating flights safely and efficiently.
First @EP_Transport meeting in 2026 next Monday (12 January).
— TRAN Committee Press (@EP_Transport) January 8, 2026
🗳️Vote on Air passenger rights.
🔉Debate on Roadworthiness package.
📄Agenda https://t.co/6gCzmJ2eZY
🚩Highlights https://t.co/Ak4wSb3fiS pic.twitter.com/X4TLef6fAM
Parliament’s stance contrasts with recent Council agreement
The European Parliament’s position contrasts with a recent agreement reached by EU transport ministers, previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, which proposed raising delay thresholds before compensation applies. Under that deal, passengers on short and medium haul flights would only qualify for compensation after delays of four hours or more, while long haul passengers would face a six-hour threshold.
Ministers argued that the revised thresholds better reflect operational realities while maintaining strong consumer protection. The agreement also introduced clearer rules on rerouting, assistance during disruptions, and access to information, as well as new provisions addressing cancellations and no-show policies.
Ryanair lying as to the reason for a two hour delay when the original aircraft landed on time and was ready to go but changed it for another aircraft half way across Europe that wasn’t even headed for Dublin but to Leeds! @Ryanair looking forward to my refund under EU261 pic.twitter.com/7BYibGabBR
— Andy 🇵🇸 (@a_qAndy) November 28, 2025
Despite this, airline associations argue that the Parliament’s Transport Committee is dismissing both passenger preferences and economic realities. They warn that additional costs could undermine the affordability of air travel and weaken Europe’s air connectivity at a time when the EU is facing a broader competitiveness challenge.
Airlines for Europe, the European Regions Airline Association, and IATA are now urging EU decision makers to adopt a more balanced approach as the legislative process continues, stressing that airlines and passengers ultimately share the same objective: a reliable, affordable, and well-connected European aviation network.
