France and Germany are set to demand the European Parliament acquiesce to the reduction of statutory compensation for delays and cancellations to medium- and long-haul flights, a document seen by Euractiv suggests.
The latest twist in 13 years of on-off negotiations over a proposal to reform passenger rights finally comes just a week ahead of a legal deadline that will see the bill scrapped and the status quo prevail.
Contrary to the European Parliament’s fight against any rollback of existing rights, Paris and Berlin are now proposing that the delay threshold and the level of compensation due be applied at the level currently applied to trips below 1,500 kilometres.
This would mean reducing compensation for delays above three hours to medium- and long-haul flights over 3,500km from €400 and €600 respectively to a uniform €250.
“This option deserves support on several counts,” the Franco-German note runs. “It is simple and clear: one threshold, one amount, one channel to claim, a solution that everyone can grasp immediately.”
Easier claims
All delayed passenger would also receive a direct link to claim their compensation, the document suggests. The parliament had previously pushed for the compensation form to be also pre-filled.
For the two capitals, who circulated their proposal on Monday, a deal on air passenger rights must balance the interests of passengers with the financial burden shouldered by airlines.
All other outstanding issues, which include defining the extraordinary circumstances that allow exceptions to the right to compensations, and the size and price of carry-on baggage, “should be settled in a way consistent with the overall balance”, the Franco-German blueprint suggests.
The proposal comes just days after the Council of the EU rejected a compromise offer from the European Parliament’s negotiating team last week.
That package would have kept the current compensation thresholds and the levels largely untouched, but halved the compensation for a long-haul flight delay by between 3 and 4 hours to €300.
It would also have required airlines by law to issue delayed passengers with a link where they can put in a claim. MEPs also proposed that a medium-sized piece of carry-on luggage should be included in the ticket price, although they had conceded that airlines could discount tickets for passengers who choose to travel without one.
The negotiating teams of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have to find an agreement before 15 June or the reform will be abandoned.
(rh)
