While Brazil Expands Passenger Rights, Europe Moves to Weaken Them

At a time when the EU is considering reducing compensation for flight delays, Brazil is strengthening passenger protections and banning abusive fees.

Brussels, October 30, 2025 – The irony could hardly be greater: while Brazil has decided that passengers can once again check luggage for free, the European Union – long regarded as the global champion of consumer rights – is debating whether to roll back the very rules that made it a model for traveller protection two decades ago.

On Tuesday, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved a law requiring airlines to allow free checked baggage of up to 23 kg and banning the cancellation of return flights if passengers miss the outbound leg.

Everything European consumers have been demanding for years – transparency, flexibility, and fewer hidden fees – has just been approved in Brazil by an overwhelming majority in parliament.

“Airlines promised cheaper fares when they started charging for bags. They lied,” said Deputy Arlindo Chinaglia during the debate. “They made billions, and consumers were left with the losses.”

Brussels Sides with Airlines – Against Citizens?

Meanwhile, in Brussels, the Council of the European Union is pushing a proposal many critics call a “poisoned gift to the airlines.”

The plan would reduce compensation for flight delays and cancellations and increase the minimum delay time required for reimbursement from three to as many as six hours.

In other words: if your flight from Paris to Berlin is delayed by three hours – already an infuriating experience – the EU could soon decide that this is “not enough” to warrant compensation. Currently, passengers are entitled to between €250 and €600 depending on the flight distance.

“It’s the biggest setback in passenger rights since 2004,” warns Tom van Bokhoven, CEO of Flight-Delayed.com. “This proposal rewards airlines and punishes passengers who already pay high prices for poor service.”

The European Parliament, for its part, wants to preserve the three-hour rule and even adjust compensation for inflation – something that hasn’t been done since the legislation was first enacted in 2004.
 But the Council – composed of national governments – continues to resist, under heavy pressure from the aviation industry.

Brazil Moves Forward, Europe Falls Behind

The contrast is hard to ignore.

Brazil, often criticized for bureaucracy and economic volatility, is legislating in favor of ordinary citizens. Europe, proud of its civil rights record, seems to be giving ground to corporate lobbies.

Over 80,000 Europeans have already signed a petition against the rollback of passenger rights, yet many EU capitals remain conspicuously silent.

“Invisible Fees” and the Cost of Resignation

European travellers have grown used to low-cost airlines that charge for everything: seat selection, boarding passes, even small backpacks. Now they face the prospect of receiving less compensation when the service fails. Ironically, the EU proposal still leaves room for hidden fees – something Brazil has just eliminated from its new aviation code.

The question for European consumers is simple: Why will a passenger flying from São Paulo to Paris soon be able to check luggage and choose a seat for free, while one flying within Europe cannot?

What Kind of Europe Do We Want?

Amid promises of “competitiveness” and “reduced burdens” for airlines, the EU risks undermining public trust.

The debate over the future of Regulation 261 has become symbolic of something larger: a Europe that calls itself social, yet legislates as if it were an airline.

Negotiations between the Parliament and the Council are expected to continue until February 2026.
 But for millions of European travellers, the question is already clear:

Do we want a Europe that defends passengers – or one that protects profits?

Sources: Agência Câmara Notícias (Brazil), Flight-Delayed.com, European Parliament, Council of the European Union