MEP amendments to the EC proposal generally in favour of passenger rights

We constantly monitor proposals, which refer to air passenger rights in Europe. Therefore, we have reviewed the latest draft opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection for the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament. The amendments are made to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending 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 and Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air. We welcome those from the amendments made, which secure the passenger rights, enhance better service and balance the real power between key market stakeholders. The draft opinion is available, here.

MEP wishes to limit the waiting time in the event of a tarmac delay to two hours

Mr Hans-Peter Mayer, the Member of the European Parliament and the rapporteur of Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection has prepared a draft opinion on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. In the opinion, dated 17 September 2013, the rapporteur proposes to limit the waiting time in the event of a tarmac delay to two hours. For journeys of up to 3 500 km and flights within the EU, in case of delay of at least three hours, the passenger should be entitled to a maximum compensation payment of €250 per flight. The second category is concerned with flights of 3 500 km or longer and for these, claims of up to €600 should be possible for delay of at least five hours. In the event of no-fault delays and cancellations, airlines should be required to bear the cost of a maximum of three nights at a hotel, with a ceiling of €150 per night. According to the rapporteur, the amount proposed by the Commission seems too small in the case of some destinations, particularly with regard to the need to spend the night near the airport because of a possible further flight. The link to a draft opinion is here.

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.