General Court ruling on Regulation 261/2004

On 21 January 2026, the General Court of the European Union delivered a significant judgment concerning the interpretation of “extraordinary circumstances” under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 on air passenger rights. The ruling provides further clarification on the legal scope of this concept, with potential implications for airlines and aviation stakeholders.

The decision refines the criteria under which carriers may be exempted from liability, contributing to the evolving jurisprudence affecting operational risk management and compliance in air transport.

A detailed legal analysis is available at the following link.