The European Commission has announced a major drive to upgrade the rights of air passengers.
The Commission will propose legislation to give passengers new rights. On delays, airlines would have to offer passengers reimbursement or the earliest alternative flight. They could not annul whole tickets when a delay prevented passengers flying one leg of a flight. Contracts would have to be written clearly and spell out the service and conditions. Fares could not be raised after the ticket was booked and passengers would be told the total price, distinguishing between the fare and fees, taxes and charges.
Airlines would have to specify the carrier operating the flight and carriers would have to provide free basic services for the disabled.
The Commission intends also to seek voluntary commitments from airlines to offer the lowest fare available when customers make reservations; rapid information when flights are delayed or cancelled; meals and hotels for delayed passengers; higher limits on liability for lost luggage and simpler complaints procedures.
