Air passengers stand to get better compensation deals from today for delayed and cancelled flights.
Air passenger groups generally welcomed the new EU regulations, which they say will force all airlines to pay out for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
But the new rules have also been described as unfair and confusing, with lawyers likely to be the only ones to really benefit.
Low-fare airlines are particularly angry about the regulations, which could see passengers getting more than €600 compensation if a long-haul flight is cancelled or has been overbooked and €250 for a short-haul flight.
The European Commission has said the regulations will improve airline service, budget airline easyJet stated that the new legislation was "bad" and would damage the industry.
The EC rules apply to all flights, including charters, operated by European airlines from or to a European airport, and to any flight departing from the EU. Compensation of around €250 will be paid for flights of less than 935 miles which have been cancelled or overbooked.
EasyJet said the legislation was "a piece of bad law" that was unfairly biased against the airline industry and would fail to achieve EC objectives. It said compensation should not be a flat rate thing but be proportionate to the fare paid.
PA