Key facts
- EU countries agreed to maintain the compensation paid to passengers for three-hour flight delays at €250.
- Airlines will be required to send passengers documents to claim compensation within 96 hours.
- Rules ensuring accompanying adults can sit near children without extra fees will remain unchanged.
European Union countries have agreed to maintain the current compensation of €250 for passengers experiencing flight delays of three hours or more. The decision, confirmed by a senior EU diplomat, also mandates that airlines must provide passengers with the necessary documentation to claim this compensation within 96 hours of the flight.
Additionally, existing rules that allow an accompanying adult to sit next to a child without incurring an additional fee will remain in place. The EU regulations, known as EU261, cover flights within the 27 EU member states, as well as flights to and from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, and certain overseas territories. These rules have been in place since 2005 and have resulted in airlines paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.