Finance
EU parliament votes to retain three-hour limit for flight delay compensation
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
The EU Parliament voted to maintain the 3-hour flight delay compensation threshold, with ongoing negotiations on proposed changes to passenger rights.
EU Parliament Votes to Maintain Three-Hour Flight Delay Compensation
EU Flight Delay Compensation Regulations
By Julia Payne
Current Compensation Rules
BRUSSELS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The European Parliament voted in a plenary session on Wednesday to keep the current three-hour flight delay threshold for compensation in the EU's next set of airline passenger rights, while backing several amendments, including on carry-on items.
Proposed Changes by EU Member States
Under EU process, months of negotiation are likely to be needed before a compromise can be reached and changes signed into law.
Additional Passenger Rights
The European Parliament and the 27 European Union member countries disagree over a package of measures first put forward by the European Commission, the EU executive, more than a decade ago.
EU countries last year agreed to increase the delay threshold to four hours for short-haul flights.
Under existing rules in place since 2004, air passengers can claim compensation for flights delayed by more than three hours from 250 euros ($292.95) and more depending on the flight length.
The European Parliament wants to keep the delay threshold with compensation at 300-600 euros, while EU member states want to raise the delay cutoff and reduce compensation to a maximum of 500 euros.
Further, they want passengers to have the right to a free cabin bag of a maximum 7 kilograms (15 lb). The weight and dimensions are smaller than current cabin bag limits on some airlines such as Ryanair that charge extra for larger hand luggage weighing up to 10 kilograms.
Other rules, which are not in dispute, include free seating for an accompanying adult next to a child or person with reduced mobility.
($1 = 0.8534 euros)
(Reporting by Julia Payne, editing by Inti Landauro and Barbara Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •EU Parliament votes to keep 3-hour delay compensation threshold.
- •Proposed changes include free cabin bags up to 7 kg.
- •EU countries proposed increasing delay threshold to 4 hours.
- •Current compensation ranges from 250 to 600 euros.
- •Negotiations between EU Parliament and member states ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU parliament votes to retain three-hour limit for flight delay compensation
1What is flight delay compensation?
Flight delay compensation refers to the monetary compensation that airlines must provide to passengers if their flight is delayed by a certain amount of time, typically three hours or more.
2What are airline passenger rights?
Airline passenger rights are regulations that protect travelers in cases of flight cancellations, delays, and other disruptions, ensuring they receive compensation and assistance from airlines.
3What is the role of the European Commission?
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's policies and budget.
4What are proposed amendments to flight delay compensation?
Proposed amendments include changes to the compensation amounts and the introduction of new rights, such as allowing passengers to carry a free cabin bag.
