Following today’s vote in the European Parliament’s plenary on the revision of the EU air passenger rights regulation, EU261, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) warns that the position adopted will significantly squeeze regional airlines and put essential air connectivity across Europe at risk. While boosting the protection of passenger rights is a shared goal, today’s vote shows a process driven more by political positioning than by operational and economic reality.
The plenary vote confirms that the EU261 revision has become a political tug-of-war prevailing over coherent, evidence-based regulation. As a result, regional airlines risk being squeezed by measures that fail to take account of their specific operating conditions and their vital role in connecting Europe’s regions.
“Regional airlines risk becoming the punchbags of a political tug-of-war. ERA members operate over 1,000 unique routes, yet when compensation can reach two to three times the ticket price, the outcome is not stronger passenger rights but fewer essential air links for islanders, remote regions, and commuters who rely on these services.
“This is not about punctuality or compensation. However well-intentioned, decisions in the European Parliament risk turning a passenger-rights file into a barrier to everyday mobility for European citizens by overlooking the impact on regional airlines,” said Montserrat Barriga, Director General of ERA.
Background: why regional aviation is uniquely exposed
Regional airlines play a distinct and indispensable role in Europe’s transport system:
- They provide year-round essential connectivity, including to remote and isolated regions
- In over one thousand routes, they are the sole operators on specific routes, with no alternative transport modes available
- They connect citizens to essential social services such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities
- They typically operate smaller aircraft (19–120 seats) and smaller fleets
- They face structural constraints, including limited rerouting options, single bases, and reduced access to maintenance facilities
- They operate on lower margins, making them particularly vulnerable to disproportionate regulatory costs
- They are key contributors to regional development and the sustainable transition
Despite these realities, the revised EU261 risks being punitive and disproportionate for regional aviation, even though these airlines make strong efforts to avoid cancellations and prioritise connectivity, especially where they provide the only available air link and, in most cases, the only available transport mode.