Air Passenger Rights: European Commission wants better enforcement of rules ahead of summer holidays

As millions of European citizens will be travelling during the summer period, today the European Commission is taking action for a better enforcement of air passenger rights in the European Union. New guidelines adopted today will clarify the existing rules and facilitate their application, to the benefit of travellers and businesses. This is yet another deliverable of the Aviation Strategy for Europe adopted by the Commission in December 2015 to strengthen the competitiveness of European aviation and maintain the highest standards.

EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said: "Transport is first and foremost about people, and I am proud that the EU protects its passengers across all forms of transport. The guidelines published today will bring further clarity and legal certainty to ensure that the rules are applied properly. All EU citizens travelling by plane should receive the level of protection they are entitled to."

The EU's Air Passenger Rights legislation is among the most advanced in the world, offering a high degree of protection against unforeseen circumstances to people travelling by plane to and from the EU. A number of judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have however affected the content and scope of the legislation since it entered into force in 2005. A clarification was therefore needed for travellers, airlines, and the National Authorities, which are in charge of making sure the rules are properly applied at national level.

Today's guidelines summarise the existing case law and consolidate all ongoing practices. Of particular relevance are:

• Compensation for delay: the right of compensation after a delay of three hours at the final destination.
• Compensation for missed connecting flight: the right of compensation in case of long delay at arrival due to missed connecting flights.
• Extraordinary circumstances: various situations such as technical defects linked to the premature malfunction of certain components of an aircraft or aircraft collisions with other aircraft/devices whereby airlines cannot be exempted from the payment of compensation in case of cancellation and delay.
• Measures to be taken in extraordinary circumstances: the right to assistance and care during exceptional events such as the ash cloud in 2010.

The guidelines will apply pending the adoption and entry into force of the new Air passenger legislation proposed by the Commission in 2013 . The objective of this proposal was to clarify certain of the current Regulation and to introduce new passenger rights where necessary. The legislative procedure in the European Parliament and Council is ongoing.

Background

The guidelines which will be published on 15 June 2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union in all EU languages, will help facilitate air travel for passengers and thus assist air carriers and their agents to improve the application of the Regulation. They will also assist national authorities with the enforcement of the Regulation and ensuring an equal level playing field for all air carriers. They will provide a real added value to the increased travel activity at the outset of the holiday period and until a new legal framework enters into force.

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 entered into force in February 2005.

The Aviation Strategy for Europe is one of the initiatives listed in the Commission Work Programme for 2015 . The goal of the Aviation Strategy is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the entire EU air transport value network.

About The European Commission

Transport directly affects everyone in Europe. Whatever age we are, and whatever activities we undertake, transport and mobility play a fundamental role in today’s world. The aim of the Commission is to promote a mobility that is efficient, safe, secure and environmentally friendly and to create the conditions for a competitive industry generating growth and jobs. The issues and challenges connected to this require action at European or even international level; no national government can address them successfully alone. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport works in concert with the European Union Member States, European industry, citizens and stakeholders.