CAA: Airlines broke EU law and misled stranded passengers
Wednesday, 23 Dec, 2010
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The Civil Aviation Authority says some airlines have not been following EU law regarding care for stranded passengers during the Big Freeze and has suggested carriers misled them about their rights.
The organization says it has written to a number of carriers about the behaviour and says it will “take action to ensure that any unacceptable practices are addressed.”
It will outline how they are failing to explain EU denied boarding regulations to passengers which say that during periods of disruption airlines need to give passengers refreshments and put them up in hotels if necessary.
However, it will not say which airlines it is contacting apart from the fact that some are UK-based and some overseas-based.
The CAA urges passengers to hold on to all receipts if they have had to shell out for hotels and meals during the recent flight chaos.
CAA chair Deirdre Hutton said: “The European Union has put in place regulations to protect people in situations such as this, which not only guarantees people will be looked after, but requires airlines to let people know what their rights are.
“This has not been happening in all cases and it is important that passengers are not being misled. The fact that some airlines are making real efforts to look after their passengers shows that it can be done and there is no excuse for providing misleading information on what passengers are entitled to.
"We welcome the Government’s comments today that they are prioritising revamping the CAA’s regulatory framework so we would be able to introduce provisions to encourage major airports to prepare better for bad weather. In the meantime though our focus will be on making sure passengers get the protection they deserve."
This morning transport minister Theresa Villiers said the Government planned to work on a bill to give the CAA sharper teeth, enabling it to fine airports and even take away their licences if they don’t prepare adequately for bad weather.
by Dinah Hatch
Dinah
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