The agreement on air passenger rights enhances transparency and predictability, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Cyprus’ Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, and European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas, at a press conference at Strasbourg on Monday evening.
Earlier on Monday, the provisional agreement on the revision of air passenger rights rules, reached by Parliament and Council negotiators, received the unanimous approval of the European Parliament delegation in the so-called ‘Conciliation Committee’.
The agreement aims to protect passengers from travel disruptions, such as denied boarding and delayed or cancelled flights. The rules had not been updated since 2004.
In her statement, Metsola noted that the EP has always been a champion of air passenger rights. The agreement makes it easier for passengers to enforce their rights, she pointed out, adding that greater transparency is ensured. ‘The agreement will strengthen passenger rights, it will have more transparency and predictability,’ she stressed.
Responding to a question, the EP President said that it took commitment, political will and courage to reach the agreement, underlining that the undertaking ‘was not easy at all.’
On his part, the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeades, noted that the agreement is a success, noting that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU is particularly proud of reaching the agreement. ‘The agreement is the result of a joint effort, compromise and European cooperation,’ he stressed.
‘The modernised framework will provide predictability and fairness to millions of passengers,’ he pointed out, adding that after 13 years of discussions, passengers will have clearer and simpler rules. The agreement also covers practical issues concerning passengers, he added.
Responding to a question, he said that the regulation not only upgrades the rights of all European passengers, but is important for all island states.
European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said that ‘today is a good day for Europe. We have improved passenger rights. The news is also good for air carriers,’ he stressed. The reform maintains what passengers know and value, he noted, adding that flight procedures are being simplified.
The agreement provides greater clarity for both air carriers and passengers, he said, noting that the price of the ticket without and with luggage will be displayed.
EP Rapporteur Andrey Novakov said that price transparency for hand luggage has been established. ‘It took us 13 years to reach an agreement, but it will be valid for another 100 years,’ he said.
On his part, EP Rapporteur Virginijus Sinkevicius said that Cyprus had shown real leadership. ‘Now was Cyprus’ moment, an important European moment’ he stressed. ‘Europe speaks with one voice and manages to protect its citizens’ he added.
According to a press release issued by the European Parliament, under the agreement, air travellers retain the right to be compensated or rerouted and claim compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, if it is cancelled less than 14 days before the flight, or if they are denied boarding.