What will expected new European regulations mean for French air travel?

European regulations covering airline passengers affected by delays, cancellations, and other unforeseen issues are set to be updated to provide more rigid consumer protection.

It will see European law updated to be more in line with regulations elsewhere such as the United States where passengers are given more generous protection in the event of any unforeseen issues.

Potential changes included in guidelines from the European Commission include flights that are brought forward by more than an hour, flights that turn back to their original airport, and re-routed flights to a new city or area being classed as cancelled flights for compensation purposes. 

In addition all flights subject to a delay of three hours or more should also be classified as cancelled (even if they do depart after this) for compensation purposes. 

Passengers of certain heavily-affected flights, including those facing three-hour plus delays, will need to be informed of how they can file a compensation claim and of their compensatory rights by airlines and airports in a clearer manner than currently. 

Where passengers are given a choice, for example between being re-routed or facing a cancelled flight, they need to be better informed about all outcomes before making their decision. 

The guidelines state that “the passengers concerned are not obliged to actively contribute themselves to the search for the information” but that it should be given to them by the relevant parties.

One other expected update to the regulations is that in a situation where a passenger’s flight is cancelled and their ticket reimbursed. If the purchase of a subsequent ticket to the same destination costs more than the original one (on the cancelled flight), the airline must also cover this increase in cost.

The EU guidelines do not mention changes caused by strikes, however. 

When will changes happen?

For the moment, these are only guidelines given by the Commission, originally published in July 2024 (you can see them on the EU website here). 

The official regulations – the current version of which can be seen here – are yet to be updated. 

Poland, currently holder of the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, said updating the regulations is one of its key priorities whilst holding the position. Its tenure runs until June 30, 2025.

A series of rulings by the European Court of Justice regarding compensation claims, made since the introduction of the 2004 regulations, are expected to be used to approve the new terms.

A further breakdown of the current rights of passengers flying in the EU can be found in our articles below. 

Read more: How do refunds for a cancelled flight work in France?

Read more: Travel: How to be reimbursed if flight or rail trip is affected by strike action in France