Brussels, 28/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - In his presentation on Tuesday 28 July, of the results of an investigation involving airline passenger luggage, the Commissioner for Transport, announced a series of measures to amend the rules currently in force. Antonio Tajani explained, “we are preparing the launch of a broad public consultation in October about airline passenger rights, of which a significant part will focus on luggage issues”. Tajani pointed out that for Europe alone, an estimated 10,000 items of luggage are lost every day. At the beginning of 2010, the Commission will launch a study into Regulation 889/2002 on luggage transport, which will be adopted during the same year. A press release indicated that future regulatory amendments would be necessary in this area. The Commissioner indicated that, “this involves amending the 2002 regulation…and the EU and European Commission's role in this issue”. Commissioner Tajani said that this would mean setting up agencies in each member state that can assess what it happening and work out which companies are responsible for luggage follow-up. The investigation published on Tuesday is just the first stage in the study of the phenomenon and looks at the possible solution, explained Tajani.
The investigation started last March (EUROPE 9865), following articles in the press about lost luggage. They investigation illustrated a certain improvement in the global situation but at the same time a lack of coherence at a European level and lack of rules. Contrary to the two other regulations on airline passengers (the regulation on the refusal of embarkation and the rights of passengers with reduced mobility), Regulation 889/202 does not envisage specific competent authorities. In other words, there is no, “ad hoc bodies in member states in charge of tackling passenger complaints and gathering comprehensive and official statistical information” on the subject of lost or damaged luggage, explained the Commissioner. In total sixteen consumer and sector associations and 14 national governments have responded to Commission questions, which despite everything, helped to clarify the situation, explained the Commissioner. In 2008, there was a fall in the number of luggage lost for the first time in five years, according to figures collated by SITA (international aeronautical telecommunications company) and quoted by the Commission. At a European level, the number of lost luggage items between January and October 2008 amounted to 4.6 million of which almost half (49%) was linked to theft during flights. 15% of lost luggage went unrecovered in the 48 hours after being lost. The causes of the losses were multiple and responsibility difficult to locate, explained the Commissioner, who mentioned company employees (theft or poor baggage handling), poor machine functioning that read bar codes and the fault of passengers. The Commissioner explained that they should not just consolidate this recent positive trend but had to really change the speed in which the problem is tackled.
The Commissioner is looking at several solutions and dialogue with all stakeholders is envisaged (airline, operators, member states and airlines) in an effort to reach a decisive turn around in tackling the problem. The aim is effective passenger compensation, definition of transporter responsibility, ensuring better interaction between hand luggage and cargo, the size of planes, security standards and airline safety. The current regulation guarantees compensation to passengers up to €1100 in the event of registered lost or damaged luggage or when it is delayed (unless the airline has taken all the necessary measures to avoid delays or has been unable to prevent them). (A.By.trans/rh)