Euro-MP Urges Airlines To Publicise New Compensation Laws

2.30.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jun 2005

As the summer holidays are just around the corner, a Liberal Democrat Euro-MP is reminding passengers that they can now claim compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.

New EU legislation came in to force, in February meaning that for the first time passengers whose flights have been cancelled or delayed must be compensated for their inconvenience. This applies to all airlines and flights flying to or from an EU airport.

Speaking today Liz Lynne MEP said:

"Each year around a quarter of a million passengers get a nasty surprise when checking in for flights in airports across the EU. Airlines often overbook to make more money as they expect passengers not to turn up. Under the new rules people who are left behind will have to be fully compensated.

Liz added that airlines should be doing more to publicise the new rules.

"The Directive says that a message informing passengers of their rights must be clearly displayed at the check in desk. As someone who is a frequent flyer I haven't noticed any posters or leaflets telling passengers of their new rights at any of the airports I fly from. May be they are there but I certainly haven't seen them and they don't appear to be prominently displayed as the directive states they should be.

"Many people going on holiday will not be aware of their new rights, with many thinking it does not apply to low cost airlines. We must get the message across that all flights are subject to this new law.

"If low cost airlines are here to stay, as looks likely, then they cannot build their businesses on the basis of cutting corners and overbooking. Customers should have rights to fair treatment and protection from shoddy service even when they might be getting a bargain if all goes well."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

If a flight is cancelled, passengers will receive compensation in line with the distance they would have been travelling: 250 euro (£170) for flights less than 1,500 km, 400 euro (£275) for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km and 600 euro (£420) for flights of more than 3,500 km.

When flights are delayed for more than 2 hours on short flights and 4 hours on longer flights, passengers will have the right to meals and refreshments, as well as telephone calls, fax or e-mails, all free of charge. If the departure time is not until the next day, passengers will be offered hotel accommodation and transport to and from the hotel. If the delay is over five hours, passengers will be able to choose between reimbursement [airlines will have seven days within which to make the payment] of the ticket at the price at which it was bought or a return flight to the initial point of departure.

REGULATION (EC) No 261/2004 Article 14 (1)

The operating air carrier shall ensure that at check-in a clearly legible notice containing the following text is displayed in a manner clearly visible to passengers: 'If you are denied boarding or if your flight is cancelled or delayed for at least two hours, ask at the check-in counter or boarding gate for the text stating your rights, particularly with regard to compensation and assistance'.

You can read about the directive Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, on the Europa Website http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l24173.htm