German ministry proposes flexible arbitration rules for airline dispute cases

Based on · First reported 2 Oct 2026

The German Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) has put forward a regulation to make arbitration in air travel disputes more flexible, allowing a faster and more efficient procedure and the option to skip preparing a settlement proposal if the airline does not reply.
The new rules would keep arbitration mandatory for airlines that are not members of a recognized private arbitration association, while giving the arbitration office of the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) greater discretion to decide whether to draft a settlement proposal, a change prompted by a more than three‑fold rise in applications since 2015.

Why it matters

A streamlined arbitration process could reduce the time and cost of resolving passenger complaints for airlines and regulators.