New European regulation sets 30-day payment deadline

A new European regulation mandates that airlines process compensation claims within 30 days, starting from October 2027. This rule aims to streamline the process for passengers seeking refunds or compensation for flight disruptions.

Study reveals current airline delays

A study analyzing 68,311 compensation claims from January to June 2026 shows that nearly a third of airlines do not meet the future 30-day standard under current conditions. The research includes 59 airlines across 31 countries, highlighting widespread delays in processing claims.

Payment delays vary widely

The study found that payment delays range from one to five times the required 30-day period. For example, SATA, the Portuguese airline, has an average delay of 130 days, while Ryanair in Italy takes 80 days on average. These delays reflect the time it takes for airlines to actually pay compensation, not just acknowledge claims.

Regulation includes transparency and claim periods

The new regulation requires airlines to justify refusals, especially when citing extraordinary circumstances like bad weather. It also extends the time passengers have to file claims to nine months, giving them more time to assert their rights.

Compensation amounts remain unchanged

The compensation amounts—250, 400, or 600 euros—depend on flight distance and circumstances. The threshold for a three-hour delay at arrival remains the same. However, the regulation will not take effect until October 2027, giving airlines a year to prepare.

Experts question the regulation’s effectiveness

Anton Radchenko, a legal expert and director of AirAdvisor, questions whether the regulation will truly speed up payments or just help airlines respond faster to refusals. Airlines may rely on questionable reasons to deny claims, without facing automatic penalties.

Passengers face challenges in asserting rights

Passengers often lack the resources and legal support that airlines have. Many give up after facing delays or complicated procedures. Some turn to intermediaries like AirAdvisor, who charge a fee for their help in navigating the process.

Regulation lacks automatic penalties

The regulation does not impose automatic fines for late payments or delays. Airlines that take longer than 30 days to pay do not face financial penalties, only the risk of passengers giving up or pursuing legal action, which is costly and time-consuming.

Implementation will test airline compliance

The regulation’s success in October 2027 will depend on whether airlines speed up payments or simply deny more claims. If the latter happens, it could overwhelm national mediators and courts with disputes. Passengers are advised to act quickly and keep records to assert their rights effectively.