EPF together with other organisations defending passenger and consumer rights across Europe, have co-signed an open letter to MEPs calling on them to reject the Council’s proposed revision of Regulation EC 261/2004.

The letter warns that the Council’s proposal would erase more than 20 years of hard-won consumer protections, introducing confusing and contradictory clauses that risk undermining legal certainty and violating the EU’s obligation under Article 169 TFEU to ensure a high level of consumer protection. It would also undermine the clarity achieved through years of CJEU’s case law and trigger prolonged litigation.

Together, the signatories urge MEPs to stand firm and defend passengers by keeping Europe’s air travel rights simple, fair, and effective. The open letter calls for:

  • Maintaining the 3-hour compensation threshold, which has served travellers well for decades. Raising it would mean longer delays and up to 60 % fewer passengers eligible for compensation.

  • Closing legal loopholes rather than expanding them. Redefining “extraordinary circumstances” to include routine issues like technical failures, strikes, or crew sickness contradicts existing EU case law.

  • Adjusting compensation levels in line with inflation, rather than cutting them by up to 25 %.

  • Rejecting the proposed 6-month claim deadline, which would severely limit passengers’ ability to seek redress, especially for vulnerable travellers.

  • Preventing excessive hand-luggage fees, as protecting only very small personal items undermines the dignity and practicality of air travel.

As the letter states, “Air passenger rights are not a privilege; they are a promise.” Now is not the time to weaken one of the EU’s most tangible success stories. EPF joins fellow organisations in calling on the European Parliament to protect what works and defend EC 261, ensuring that European travellers continue to benefit from strong, reliable passenger rights.

Read the full open letter here.

Those wishing to support the initiative can find more information and sign the petition here:
👉 Say No to Worse Passenger Rights