**A hard-fought compromise** After years of debate, the European Parliament has reached a trilogue agreement on the revision of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the cornerstone of air passenger rights in the EU. The good news for passengers is that the core pillars remain intact: the three-hour delay threshold for compensation, the existing compensation amounts (€250, €400, €600 depending on flight distance), and the established definition of "extraordinary circumstances" are all preserved. This was not a given—the Council, Commission, and parts of the airline industry had pushed for a higher threshold (up to 5–9 hours depending on distance) and lower payouts. The Parliament successfully resisted these pressures, maintaining what Flightright calls "the world reference in air passenger protection." **Codifying CJEU case law** The reform also integrates a decade of jurisprudence from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) directly into the regulation. Key rulings—such as the equivalence between delayed and cancelled flights, and the relationship between fixed compensation and contractual damages—are now codified. This should simplify application for passengers, airlines, and national courts, reducing legal uncertainty and divergent interpretations across member states. For ATPL and ATC students, this means a more predictable legal environment when dealing with irregular operations. **New limitations that sting** However, the reform introduces several provisions that weaken passenger rights in practice. The most controversial is the reduction of the claim deadline from five years (under French common law) to just nine months. Given that 76% of French passengers do not know their rights regarding delays or cancellations, this shorter window risks a sharp drop in successful claims. Additionally, the definition of "arrival" has shifted from the moment a cabin door opens (as per CJEU) to when the aircraft reaches its parking position. This subtle change could push borderline delays below the three-hour threshold, benefiting airlines at passengers' expense. **Capped re-routing and missed opportunities** The reform also caps reimbursement for replacement flights operated by other airlines at 400% of the original ticket price, a limit that may deter carriers from offering re-routing on competitors. Meanwhile, compensation amounts were not increased despite inflation, and protections for non-EU carriers remain limited. On the positive side, families will be seated together without extra cost, hand baggage fees will be more regulated, and rights for passengers with reduced mobility are strengthened. These are welcome but peripheral improvements. **What this means for aviation students** For ATPL and ATC trainees, understanding Regulation 261/2004 is essential—it directly impacts operational decisions: when to delay a flight, how to handle cancellations, and what information to give passengers. The reform's codification of CJEU case law provides clearer guidelines, but the shorter claim deadline and new arrival definition require careful attention. Future pilots and controllers must know these rules to avoid legal pitfalls and ensure compliance during irregular operations.