People look at flight information boards showing scheduled departures, as airports across Greece suspended arrivals and departures on January 4, after unspecified issues affecting radio frequencies, at Athens International Airport. [Louiza Vradi/Reuters]
The European Parliament has voted to maintain a three-hour flight delay threshold for passenger compensation, while also supporting several amendments, including new rules for hand luggage.
Under current regulations passengers can claim compensation for flights delayed more than three hours, ranging from 250 euros and up depending on flight distance.
The parliament’s decision ensures compensation will now range from 300 to 600 euros, despite European Union member states advocating for a four-hour threshold for short-haul flights and a maximum payout of 500 euros.
The parliament also approved a rule giving passengers the right to one free carry-on bag weighing up to 7 kilograms. These dimensions are smaller than the limits used by some airlines.
Flight delays in Greece remain among the worst in Europe, ranking third, largely due to outdated air traffic control systems and understaffing, according to the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).Â
Earlier this month, a radio frequency malfunction caused a partial shutdown of flights across Greece for several hours. Authorities attributed the incident to outdated systems rather than external interference, prompting the resignation of the country’s civil aviation authority chief.