From our correspondent in Strasbourg – Travelling free of charge alongside your child up to the age of 14, without having to pay for a seat; an obligation for airlines to confirm receipt of a complaint and respond within 30 days at the latest, and to provide information electronically within a maximum of 96 hours regarding the right to a refund in the event of delays or cancellations. The European Parliament is preparing to finalise the passenger rights dossier through a plenary vote, establishing rules that have been 13 years in the making.
The EU Parliament and Council reached an inter-institutional agreement in mid-June, which updates the framework for the protection of travellers. The Parliament is set to grant the first of two definitive official approvals, with the various political groups united in confirming the agreement without amendments and handing the July plenary session over to a historic vote. The Council’s subsequent “yes” vote will bring the process to a close by updating the rules for travel within and outside the EU.
In these difficult negotiations, Parliament managed to retain the three-hour delay as a prerequisite for entitlement to a refund, despite the Council’s attempts to extend it beyond three hours. This is one of the key conditions under negotiation, which provides for a refund that varies by route: €250 for all journeys up to 1,500 kilometres; €400 for all intra-EU flights or for routes between 1,500 km and 3,500 km; and €600 for all other flights. The agreed rules provide for concessions for airlines, which will be able to reduce refunds by 50 per cent on longer routes if passengers are offered an alternative route to their final destination or if the delay on arrival does not exceed four hours.
Again, to protect passengers, it is stipulated that in the event of a cancellation or long delay, the airline must, at its own expense, arrange alternative transport. If an alternative travel option is not offered within three hours,
passengers may make their own arrangements and claim a refund of up to four times (400 per cent) the original ticket price. “The European Parliament has stood firm against attempts to water down passengers’ rights to refunds, and has even managed to introduce new ones,” claims Gediminas Vilkas, the European Parliament’s spokesperson responsible for transport. Among these new rights are those regarded as “anti-low-cost rules“, namely no obligation to pay extra to sit next to one’s child and the right to carry one personal item on board, such as a small bag or rucksack, at no extra cost. These are policies typical of well-known low-cost airlines. Furthermore, it is stipulated that priority must be given to people with reduced mobility in the event of alternative flights.
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This is a victory for Parliament, which not only defends rights but also improves them,” states
Jens Gieseke (EPP). “A truly important day is approaching, because we are making tangible progress” for air travellers, says
Matteo Ricci (PD/S&D). The Austrian sovereigntist
Roman Heide (PfE) highlights the Parliament’s cross-party, united stance on the issue: “The result is welcome,” he states in his speech. Meanwhile, from the Conservative (ECR) benches, the Polish MEP
Kosma Zlotowski admits that “although the reform as it stands is not ideal,
the update to the rules is a success story for this European Parliament.” The Greens, through
Virginius Sinkevicius, also emphasise the importance of travelling free of charge with one’s child and with hand luggage at no extra cost, further evidence of a united Parliament awaiting the vote.
Aras Saeidi, from The Left, openly attacks the
Chairman and Chief Executive of Ryanair: “
Mr O’Leary, it is not our rules that are absurd. It is dishonest to charge people for sitting next to their own child!”
