Strasbourg: The agreement on air passenger rights enhances transparency and predictability, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Cyprus' Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades, and European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas announced at a press conference in Strasbourg on Monday evening.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the provisional agreement on the revision of air passenger rights rules, reached by Parliament and Council negotiators, received unanimous approval from the European Parliament delegation in the 'Conciliation Committee' earlier on Monday. The agreement aims to protect passengers from travel disruptions, such as denied boarding and delayed or cancelled flights, updating rules that had not been revised since 2004.
In her statement, Metsola emphasized the European Parliament's commitment to championing air passenger rights. She highlighted the agreement's role in facilitating passengers' ability to enforce their rights and ensuring greater transparency. Metsola noted the agreement's potential to strengthen passenger rights and provide more predictability.
Responding to inquiries, Metsola acknowledged the challenges in reaching the agreement, citing the need for commitment, political will, and courage. She described the process as demanding but ultimately rewarding.
Minister Alexis Vafeades celebrated the agreement as a success, expressing pride on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. He described the agreement as a product of joint effort, compromise, and European cooperation. Vafeades underscored the modernised framework's ability to provide predictability and fairness to millions of passengers, offering clearer and simpler rules after 13 years of discussions. He also noted the regulation's significance for all island states.
European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas described the day as a positive one for Europe, emphasizing the improvement in passenger rights and benefits for air carriers. He highlighted the simplified flight procedures and greater clarity the agreement provides for both air carriers and passengers, noting that ticket prices with and without luggage will be displayed.
EP Rapporteur Andrey Novakov remarked on the established price transparency for hand luggage, highlighting the long journey to reach the agreement and its enduring impact. EP Rapporteur Virginijus Sinkevicius praised Cyprus for its leadership and emphasized the importance of unified European action in protecting citizens.
According to a press release issued by the European Parliament, the agreement ensures that air travellers retain the right to be compensated or rerouted and claim compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, cancelled less than 14 days before the flight, or if they are denied boarding.