Euro MPs say “tighten the airline compensation rules”

Airlines should give stranded passengers better information and immediate help, MEPs said in a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday.  They called on the European Commission to tighten the rules on help and compensation for flight cancellations or delays over six hours.  The immediate reaction of some airlines was that the suggestions were “unworkable”. 

"While EU legislation has already gone some way towards improving the rights of air passengers, more needs to be done to get them a fair deal and to ensure broader rights for all travellers," said Keith Taylor of the UK Green Party before the vote.  He added that the definitions of "extraordinary circumstances" and "cancellation", in particular, need to be clarified.  

“Air carriers should be obliged to ensure that stranded passengers can turn to competent contact personnel in each airport and over the telephone who can give them useful information on alternative travel options and take immediate decisions on assistance, rerouting and rebooking,” says the resolution.  “Passengers stranded when airlines go bankrupt should be repatriated free of charge.”  No suggestion as to who pays. www.europarl.europa.eu

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