Originally Posted by
number_6
That is my point exactly -- they are covered for tickets issued within the EU. But the EU regulation does not apply to non-EU flights of EU-operating carriers; otherwise QF MEL-SYD would be covered by the EU regulation (and it clearly is not!).
Actually people returning from the UK are covered by the EU rules - not just people whose tickets were issued in the EU.
In this specific case all passengers who were on the flight from London are covered, but those who joined at Singapore aren't.