Plane passengers are being warned of a new four-hour rule ahead of their holidays this summer. The move will impact easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Jet2 customers following a decision by the European Union (EU).

The timeframe for claiming compensation for a delayed flight has now been increased, as reported by Yorkshire Live. After 12 years of discussions, it has been agreed that compensation claims for short-haul flights can only be made after a delay of four hours or more. This figure was previously three hours.

Meanwhile, long-haul travellers will need to be delayed by six or more hours before making a redressal. The cause of the delay also impacts the amount of compensation people receive.

A4E, which represents leading airlines across Europe, said: “Europe has been waiting for transparent and workable passenger rights for 12 years and member states have fallen at the final hurdle to deliver…member states have diluted the European Commission’s original proposal and introduced even more complexity.”

Meanwhile, German members of the European people’s Party have voiced their opposition to the move. They said that “decreasing the rights to compensation for air passengers would be a step in the wrong direction. Reimbursement after a three-hour delay has been standard for many years and should remain so.”

A senior EU diplomat added that “no politician wants to say more than four hours.” They highlighted the reluctance to extend the current cut-off for airport delays.

Steven Berger, a solicitor with the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC), said: “The European Court of Justice has made it very clear that hand baggage is an integral part of the basic ticket price. Normally, there is no surcharge on the price as long as the hand luggage is of a reasonable size.

“All we’re seeing is a proliferation of airlines charging for this baggage, we’re calling for very clear rules. Passengers must be able to take one piece of luggage, a small suitcase or a rucksack.

“At the moment, there are two different opposing positions among the member states in the Council. On the whole, you have the camp of the member states that are going to defend the three hours to be able to benefit from the right to compensation and others that are going to ask for five hours and nine hours based on distance. So right now this is really the big source of conflict.”