Major updates to EU passenger rights regulations, scheduled to come into effect in October 2027, aim to redefine the point of arrival for delay calculations, potentially offering clearer standards for airlines and passengers alike.
During the European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) General Assembly in Belfast, Danish Air Transport CEO Jesper Rungholm explained that the new rules will set the official delay cutoff at on-block time—when the aircraft reaches the stand and parking brakes are engaged—rather than the previously ambiguous door-open time.
Background and Industry Perspectives
Previously, the EU261 regulation lacked a specific definition of arrival time. A 2014 Germanwings case had established that arriving at the point when at least one aircraft door is opened marked the arrival, a standard which posed evidentiary challenges for airlines and legal clarity issues.
“Passengers sitting in the back of the airplane, when do they get out of the airplane? That sometimes takes 15 minutes before they're out. Are they then arriving 15 minutes later than the one sitting in front?” said Rungholm.
The upcoming revision, by defining arrival as the on-block time, aims to eliminate subjectivity and difficulties in legal proceedings, leading to more precise delay assessments. Rungholm emphasized that this change will be beneficial due to the objective nature of on-block time, which is recorded in airport reports and statistics.
This clarification could result in more accurate compensation calculations and a reduction in legal disputes over delay times, providing a more stable regulatory environment for European airlines.
