The European Commission has stepped up efforts to protect air passengers facing delays and cancellations, giving airlines and EU member states a six month ultimatum to fall in line with EU law or face legal action.
“We must make sure that airlines and member states fully comply with their obligations,” EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said on Wednesday (4 April), stressing “the commission will give them six months to make the air passengers regulation work.”
The legislation – meant to protect passengers in cases of denied boarding, cancellations, long delays and involuntary downgrading – came into force two years ago but airlines keep dragging their feet on implementation.
Under the rules, an airline – if it is responsible for a flight disruption – must provide accommodation and meals, pay compensation of up to €600 or offer re-routing and refunds.
But the commission’s latest evaluation report shows that carriers “too often play the exceptional circumstances card” blaming e.g. weather conditions or unexpected flight safety shortcomings for cancellations in order to avoid paying out.
Brussels also accused airlines of reclassifying cancellations as long delays, failing to offer passengers a choice between a refund and re-routing and failing to inform them about their rights.
Low cost carriers were singled out as the worst at minimising passengers’ discomfort, the EU’s executive arm said.