Concerns raised over air passenger rights in Europe as crunch talks continue

Talks at the beginning of this week stalled over disagreement between EU governments and the European Parliament on the compensation passengers should receive in case of delayed or cancelled flights, as well as a proposed right to a carry-on luggage.

At present, passengers in Europe have a right to between €250-€600 in compensation, depending on flight distance, for delays of three hours or more.

Most EU governments agreed last year that the threshold should be extended to four hours for flights of up to 3,500 kilometres (2,175 miles) or for any flights within the bloc, and to six hours for longer journeys, with payout amounts between €300-€500.

The scheme also came with a "right to be rerouted" at the earliest opportunity and a system for passengers to be automatically compensated for flights cancelled within 14 days of departure.

The European Parliament, however, pushed back on new thresholds and insisted that airlines should include a seven kilogram carry-on luggage, as well as a small personal bag, in the price of the ticket. According to the Parliament, they should also be banned from charging parents to get seats next to their children.

Negotiators of the Council and Parliament have until June 15th to agree on the same text for the reform to move forward, due to a rarely-used expedited procedure adopted by member states. A no-deal would leave the current rules in place.

The Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA), an organisation that represents companies helping travellers to receive compensation, criticised the Council this week for pressing the Parliament to "abandon several of its longstanding red lines, including reducing passenger compensation to just €200."

"Another last-minute proposal was to consider technical issues as extraordinary circumstances under which airlines do not have to compensate passengers for delays, although the maintenance of the plane is in their control. This would make any claim impossible," APRA President Tomasz Pawliszyn told The Local.

"We are in a critical stage as there are 10 days to agree new rules that could not be agreed upon in 16 months of negotiations. The Council is proposing a reduction of rights for citizens for the first time ever in the European Union," Pawliszyn added.

With reporting by AFP