Brussels, 18/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio has welcomed the undertakings made last week by European airline and airport companies to improve the respect of passenger rights, which, she says, "are in line with the initiative the Commission launched a year ago (…) and respond to the main sources of concerns and complaints" (see EUROPE of 5 May, p.16). Most of these undertakings will relieve the main causes of passenger frustrations, the Commission stresses, citing the speed of checking-in, information over delays, flight cancellations, assistance for passengers whose luggage has been mishandled and delays in answering complaints. However, she goes on, they "do not cover contractual issues and do not protect fundamental passenger interests, for example in the case of death or injury, or (compensation for) refusal to embark or flight cancellations". The Commission thus confirms that in the coming months it will be presenting a legislative text on compensation for refusal of embarkation and minimum contractual requirements.
European airline companies and airports published voluntary agreements in Lisbon on 10 May by which they undertake to respect a certain number of passenger rights (price advertising, assistance in case of delays, simplified procedures for conflict settlement, etc.) and made undertakings concerning disabled passengers. In a text, the companies explain that "no carrier will refuse a person of reduced mobility except where he or she cannot safely be carried or cannot physically be accommodated. When the carriage of a PRM is refused, carriers will explain clearly and explicitly the reasons for refusal".