Brussels, 26/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The next legislative package for enhancing airline passenger rights may have a negative impact on interlining services, taking several different flights to reach a given destination. This package is expected to be presented at the end of March.
According to the magazine, Aviation Weekly, the intentions of the Commission should give the aviation sector cause for concern. European airlines will have to compensate passengers who miss a connecting flight, due to a delay on a previous flight or on another “segment” (a fight between two cities, with or without a stopover). This provision may dissuade airlines from cooperating and using interlining services. Consumers will therefore be obliged to purchase several airline tickets. Small airlines may be the most reluctant to participate in such a scheme. The potential compensation they may have to pay out would not be compensated by their revenue.
By introducing passenger rights to inter-line services, the Commission is once again in danger of providing a competitive advantage to non-European airlines, which would not be subject to the new legislation.
The EU Court of Justice has just reached a decision on a case of compensation for a delay on a journey involving several flights (see other article). It is following many different examples of clarification provided by the European Court of Justice on the question of airline passenger rights that the Commission began its review on this question. (MD/transl.fl)