Luxembourg, 10/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 October, the Transport Council found itself divided on the question of revised passenger rights. European ministers gave their views on the proposals relating to missed connections and compensation for delays.
EU countries have not managed to agree on how they should tackle delays caused by missed connections. Should the delay be taken into account when arriving, as sought by Estonia or at departures, as advocated by Slovakia? Who should be responsible for compensation? Other delegations believed that the EU should not take a line that is different from what has been adopted at a global level, particularly with inter-airline services.
With regard to the question of compensation, the British were categorical: compensation should not be increased. Some delegations (Ireland, Finland, Portugal and Slovakia) said that the amount of compensation should relate to the ticket price but other delegations (Estonia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia and Sweden) said that this was impossible. Ticket prices varied according to when they were purchased and they sometimes were part of a package deal. The European commissioner therefore admitted that it would be difficult to implement. He insisted on a balance being established between the needs of passengers and those of the airlines and said that compensation was not a goal in itself. Lithuania's Minister for Transport Rimantas Sinkevicius explained that the dossier was part of the Presidency's priorities. No one has any doubt that the task of obtaining a compromise is going to be difficult. (MD/transl.fl)