Are changes to flight compensation rules on the way in France?

A battle over new airline compensation rules that could affect millions of passengers in France and Europe is set to take place over the coming months, as MEPs vote on new regulations in the sector.

Europe’s Transport Committee met on Monday (October 13) to discuss proposed new regulations in the industry before these are subject to a vote from MEPs in the coming weeks.

They look to partially overhaul a series of measures agreed by the bloc’s transport ministers in June, which included an overhaul of compensation rights for flight delays (including reduced maximums), as well as more information and support for passengers affected by disruption. 

The changes proposed in June can be viewed in our article here. 

Those in favour of the rules previously put forward argue that the changes will improve circumstances for passengers who face unexpected delays, as well as those whose flights are cancelled in advance. 

However, others argue the reduction in compensation will only further increase airline profits at a time when passenger numbers are reaching record highs, and negatively impact passengers already suffering from delays.

Independent of the discussions, a change in France means that from February 2026, it will be harder to claim compensation for flight disruptions through the French courts.

Focus on three-hour compensation threshold

After a summer pause in proceedings over the proposed rule changes, the Transport Committee has rallied against the changes agreed upon by EU national ministers.

It has instead put forward an altered set of regulations, headed by Committee Member Andrey Novakov, a Bulgarian MEP. 

“The European Parliament is ready to fight for Europe’s passengers,” said Mr Novakov. 

“Behind every delay or cancellation, there are real people, missed birthdays, funerals, weddings and job interviews. We will not allow citizens to be left behind,” he added.

Although the full revisions from the Committee are not publicly available, they are said to focus on five ‘red’ lines:

● Entitlement to compensation from a three-hour delay threshold, regardless of flight parameters

● Parents should not have to pay extra to choose to sit next to their children

● A seven kg carry-on included in the base ticket price alongside one piece of hand luggage

● Pre-filled compensation claim forms given to passengers in the event of disruption (this was already agreed upon by transport ministers)

● Immediate compensation if denied boarding due to overbooking.

Other proposals from the Transport Committee include an end to check-in fees and the ability to continue to use paper boarding passes.

In terms of compensation delays, transport minister proposals from June wanted this to be increased to four or six hours based on distance to final destination.

“We stand firm on keeping the three-hour threshold for compensation and will not step back from this position, which has been backed by the European Court of Justice,” said Mr Novakov.

“A fair balance between passenger protection and a competitive aviation industry remains essential - but never at the expense of citizens’ rights,” he added.

What next? 

The European Council will reconvene today (October 15), headed by Denmark for a six-month tenure ending December 31, 2025.

After this, there is a three-month limit on negotiations for the regulations, possibly extended for a further month if progress has not been made.

Once a final bill on the matter is brought forward to the European Parliament – either veering more towards the rules set out by transport ministers or the updated set of regulations backed by the Transport Committee – MEPs will vote on the changes. 

The European Parliament policy of voting individually on each aspect of a bill means it is possible that only part of the changes are approved.

A similar case was seen at the start of this year regarding changes to driving safety rules across the bloc, where certain major elements such as mandatory medical tests for certain drivers was rejected despite the bill overall being passed.