EU ministers back plan to cut flight delay compensation
A majority of the ministers voted in favour of the change in Luxembourg, according to information from diplomatic circles obtained by dpa.
The European Parliament can still make changes to the new rules.
The four-hour rule is set to apply to distances of up to 3,500 kilometres. For longer flights, a six-hour limit is planned.
Consumer advocates have warned that the change would result in significantly fewer passengers receiving compensation.
According to the European Union's current Air Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation for delays of three hours or more, provided that the airline is at fault.
The amount of compensation depends on the distance: €250 ($286) for flights up to 1,500 kilometres, €400 for flights up to 3,500 kilometres and €600 for long-haul flights exceeding 3,500 kilometres.
The airlines argue that they are unable to provide a replacement aircraft and crew within three hours in many European locations, and that this can lead to additional flights being cancelled because the high compensation payments have already been incurred.
Members of the European Parliament, who must still approve the new regulation, have expressed resistance to a change. Jan-Christoph Oetjen, of Germany's pro-business Free Democrats, said before the vote that he sees no reason to change the parliament's existing position. He expects it to maintain the three-hour requirement.
Jens Gieseke, another German member of parliament, agreed: "As a parliament, we will not accept any deterioration of the status quo."
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