MEP Catarina Martins (The Left) has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission, challenging new guidelines that allow airlines to avoid compensating passengers for flight cancellations linked to the Middle East crisis. The MEP argues the guidelines capitulate to aviation lobbyists and risk enabling airlines to use the crisis as a pretext to deny compensation, cut costs, and cancel unprofitable routes at the expense of consumer rights.
The question, filed on 8 May 2026, follows Commission guidelines for the EU transport sector hit by the Middle East crisis. Under the guidelines, airlines can be exempted from paying compensation if they prove cancellations are due to extraordinary circumstances, such as local fuel shortages. Martins warns this could allow airlines to exploit instability to justify cancellations stemming from poor planning or rising fuel prices.
Concrete asks and policy direction
Martins' question contains three concrete demands: first, how the Commission will prevent airlines from using the crisis to mask cancellations due to commercial decisions; second, what specific criteria distinguish a genuine, unforeseeable fuel shortage from one caused by airline negligence in scheduling and supply management; and third, how the Commission will monitor airlines' use of exemptions to ensure they are applied strictly for safety and supply reasons, not as a profit-maximising strategy.
The MEP's policy orientation is clear: she seeks to tighten the exemption criteria and increase oversight, pushing back against what she sees as a deregulatory move favouring industry over passengers. The question reflects a cleavage between consumer protection and business competitiveness, with Martins advocating for stronger enforcement of passenger rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Expected follow-up
The Commission is required to respond to the written question within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it intends to maintain the current flexible approach or introduce stricter safeguards. Given the MEP's sharp criticism, the reply may clarify the legal basis for the guidelines and outline monitoring mechanisms, potentially shaping future revisions of air passenger rights rules. The outcome will affect EU consumers, airlines, national enforcement bodies, and the broader transport sector. Stakeholders will watch closely for any indication of tighter scrutiny or additional consumer protections.