Air passenger rights

The European Parliament transport committee today adopted a report calling for more EU action to strengthen air passenger rights by Green rapporteur (draftsperson) Keith Taylor. Commenting after the vote Keith Taylor said:

"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. Today's vote is an important step to this end, with MEPs calling on the EU Commission to come forward with further measures in key areas.

"The report calls for improved rules regarding assistance and reimbursement for delays and cancellations (including for luggage delays).

"In spite of existing EU legislation, online flight sales continue to fall short in terms of delivering transparent pricing. The report calls for the Commission to do more to enforce current EU rules.

"The report also includes proposals for addressing some of the problems faced by persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, with a view to ensuring barrier-free access to air transport.

"Crucially, from a Green perspective, the report also calls for better information on the environmental performance and impact of air journeys. Given the enormous environmental impact of flying, this would help passengers make a more informed choice as regards their travel. "