Brussels, 28/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The International Air Carrier Association (IACA) and the European Regional Airlines Association (ERAA) deplore the fact that Monday's Council adopted the regulation on air passenger assistance and compensation in the case of denied boarding, cancellation and long flight delays (see EUROPE of 27 January, p.5). According to the IACA, this text will create competition distortion with non-European airline companies as well as with the other forms of transport. Some of the key provisions of the text are "ambiguous" and the terms "cancellation" and "delay" are not sufficiently defined. Such lack of clarity leads to endless disputes between passengers, airport and airline staff. The IACA also criticises the regulation for the lack of an economic impact survey, as does the ERAA, which affirms that the Commission consulted neither air specialists nor passenger representatives, and is not able to ensure that the new rights to which passengers are entitled are proportionate to the inconveniences.