| Proposed new passenger rights regulation: step in the right direction-concerns still remain |
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14/03/2013 01:12 (73 Day 02:23 minutes ago) | ||||
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The FINANCIAL -- The European Commission published its proposed new measures to help air passengers obtain their rights in Europe.
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) welcomes the fact that the European Commission has reviewed the existing regulation, which has been challenged by both airlines and passengers, with an exceptional number of cases having been referred to the European Court of Justice for clarification. Earlier this afternoon, CEOs of AEA airlines met with Vice-President and Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas to reiterate the need for more coherent and comprehensive rules on compensation and assistance to passengers, as well as adequate and harmonised implementation across the EU.
In 2012, AEA’s member airlines carried a total of 370 million passengers. In the highly competitive environment of air transport, it is in the interest of AEA airlines to provide the highest quality of services and care for the benefit of their passengers. As AEA said, the existing regulation has a significant number of serious shortcomings. The volcanic ash crisis in 2010 and the recent severe weather conditions have clearly demonstrated that extraordinary events outside the airlines’ control can strike at any time, in which cases the airlines should be exempt from liability. Also, in cases where disruptions are caused by other actors in the aviation value chain, liability should be shared.
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