Luxembourg Airport, February 2025;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
New analysis by Airlines for Europe (A4E) has shown that up to 70% of rescuable cancelled flights in Europe (excluding cancellations caused by strike action or closed airspace) could be saved under new proposals for passengers rights, ensuring millions more passengers get to their destination.
As A4E explained in a press release issued on Friday 23 May 2025, the EU261 rules governing passenger rights were designed to minimise the number of passengers not arriving at their destination. Today, however, these rules mean that it often makes more sense for an airline to cancel a flight to limit the knock on impacts on daily flight schedules, argued Europe's largest airline association.
A4E added that extending the so-called delay thresholds would give airlines more time to move planes and crews across Europe to save flight schedules. If these rules were applied in 2024, it would have seen at least ten million more passengers getting to their destination, according to the analysis - which is based on Eurocontrol data.
Speaking of the analysis, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said: "Airlines are in the business of getting passengers to their destination safely and efficiently and we know this is the priority of passengers too. We need realistic timelines to give airlines a fighting chance to ensure many millions more passengers get to sleep in their own beds, make it to their meeting or start their holiday."
She continued: "A4E and its members have consistently called for passengers rights that work for airlines and passengers alike. EU261 has created an entire predatory industry of claims agencies who make millions each year by withholding between 30% and 50% of passenger compensation and who are now advocating against airlines having the time to get passengers to their destination."
Based in Brussels, Belgium, A4E has said it works with policymakers to ensure aviation policy continues to connect Europeans with the world in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner. With a modern fleet of over 3,700 aircraft, A4E airlines reported having carried over 771 million passengers in 2024 and served nearly 2,800 destinations across Europe and the wider world. Each year, A4E members - which include Luxembourg's Cargolux - transport more than 54 million tonnes of vital goods and equipment either by freighters or passenger aircraft.
