O European Parliament On Wednesday (21), it rejected plans to allow airlines to suffer longer delays before compensating passengers. The decision creates a stalemate with member states that supported the change.
Parliamentarians in Strasbourg voted to maintain the current system. Currently, passengers are entitled to compensation when a flight is delayed by more than three hours. The vote resulted in 632 votes in favor of maintaining the system and only 15 against.
The approved text also requires companies to include carry-on baggage in the ticket price. Another point prohibits charging fees for parents to sit next to their children during flights. trip.
Currently, passengers in Europe receive between 250 and 600 euros in compensation. The amount depends on the flight distance and is applied to delays exceeding three hours. Airlines claim that the cost is high and disrupts connecting flights.
Last year, most of 27 Member States of the European Union He agreed to extend the delay period. The proposal stipulated four hours for flights up to 3.500 kilometers and six hours for longer journeys. The costs would be reduced to between 300 and 500 euros.
Since parliamentarians and member states need to agree on the same text, a conciliation committee will be convened. The aim is to try to find a compromise between the parties.
Deputy Andrey Novakov, rapporteur of the text in Parliament, stated that parliamentarians are ready to negotiate. He argues that the absence of a new agreement is better than accepting the current proposal from the States, which would not protect passengers.
