Call for proper review of passengers' claims

The European Commission published a list of so called extraordinary circumstances. The aim of that list is to end confusion over when airlines can claim events are beyond their control, which means they do not have to pay compensation, and when they must compensate passengers for the delay or cancellation. Events that are not extraordinary include technical issues found during scheduled maintenance or failure to maintain aircraft properly, air crew running over their hours as a result of poor planning, and absence of flight documentation. The full list of extraordinary circumstances is here.

3 hours as maximum termac delay in EU

Within the proposal of the European Commission (dated 13 March 2013) for amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the limit for termac delay is forseen. The Article 6(5) sets a maximum five hour limit of the delay. It will force a carrier to get the aircraft back to the gate or other place that will be suitable for disembarkation of passengers. 

Passengers' condition (especially that of families with little children, and older people) on the plane standing on the apron can result in hard to predict accidents. These are often accompanied by uncontrolled emotions. It happens so, despite the adequate care provided by the carrier and despite ensuring adequate temperature on the plane. The similar regulation observed in US since April 2010 forces carrier to take plane back to the gate after three hours.
We call for a maximum delay of the plane with passengers on board, so it does not exceeds three hours!

"NO" to extention of flight delay limit over 3 hours!

According to data provided by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), the percentage of cases in which an air passenger is entitled to the compensation due to delayed flight, is lower than 0.15%. What is more, airlines do not have to pay compensation, if they can prove that a flight was delayed or canceled due to extraordinary circumstances, that were not dependent on a carrier.

Available data (since the introduction of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights) do not show that the three hour time limit provoked any increase of the canceled flights. Hence, we do not see any reason to extend the limit to five or more hours as it proposed by the European Commission (Article 6(2) and Article 6a of proposal dated 13 March 2013 for a Regulation of The European Parliament and of The Council amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004). We are convinced that the only one way of shortening delays, which are one of the biggest passenger inconveniences during journey, is by economic encouragement - the threat of higher costs will encourage carriers to minimize delays.

The existing air passenger rights must not be cut back!

What do we do for the air passengers?

Our mission is to execute the air passengers' rights and make necessary changes happen. We help passengers who have doubts and questions connected with the air service. Collected opinions and evidence give us certainty that we know what is going on during the journeys. Our knowledge serves the passengers. We want their voices to be seriously considered while making any decisions regarding the future, especially when it comes to providing more friendly flying. 

 

We realize our consumers' goal through:

• A presentation of passenger’s opinions to the various decision makers within the European Union, and an initiation of solutions and pursuance of their implementation.
• Education of passengers in terms of rights and constantly changing terms of services on the air services market.
• Helping in case of dissatisfaction with the service, during or after the journey; seeking the solution to any problem.
• Encouraging passengers to express their opinions and experiences.
• Enabling a collective presentation of opinions and submitting them.
• Gathering of information and consumer research, where passengers express their outlooks on journeys on the aircraft.
• Focusing on a few key issues, among others: fares and tickets, quality and level of the services, investments and ecology.
• Cooperation with governmental and local administration, with the organisations representing consumers in Europe and on other continents and with a wide group of service suppliers of the air travel industry.
• Caring for the balanced development of air travel in the European Union with careful consideration of ecology, ethics and other social aspects.