European consumer organisations, including the Cyprus Consumers Association, have warned that the ongoing review of EU passenger rights rules risks weakening protection for travellers rather than strengthening it.
In a statement, the Cyprus Consumers Association said European consumers are entitled to clear, enforceable and effective rights, warning that any rollback would deprive millions of people of meaningful safeguards.
According to the association, the current discussions on the revision of the regulation are moving in a direction that creates serious risks for passengers.
It said raising the delay threshold for compensation to four and six hours would deprive more than 60% of passengers of the right to compensation. At the same time, reducing compensation amounts by up to 67% would place a further burden on consumers.
The association also warned that the proposed expansion of the list of “extraordinary circumstances” would exclude even more passengers from compensation.
The Cyprus Consumers Association said staff strikes should not be treated as extraordinary circumstances, arguing that they are directly linked to airline management.
The statement also noted that poor information for passengers on how to submit complaints and compensation claims means that only 38% of those entitled to compensation ultimately receive it, while most do not file a claim at all.
For this reason, consumer organisations are calling for the mandatory sending of pre-filled compensation and refund forms for every incident, so passengers are informed immediately of their rights and can submit claims without bureaucratic obstacles.
Airlines also continue to impose additional charges for basic services, with fees of up to €75 for cabin luggage, up to €300 for family seat selection, and charges for printing boarding passes.
The Cyprus Consumers Association said such practices undermine price transparency and called for them to be banned at EU level.
It added that EU case law has already found that reasonably sized cabin luggage cannot be subject to an additional charge. The association also highlighted the use of “no-show” clauses, which force passengers to buy new tickets, with an average additional cost of €770 per booking.
The association said recent geopolitical crises had exposed major protection gaps for passengers travelling to the EU with non-European airlines, as in several cases no assistance or rerouting was provided.
Consumer organisations argue that extending the regulation to all flights to the European Union would ensure equal protection for all passengers, strengthen competition and require all airlines to have a legal representative inside the EU.
They also stressed the need to further strengthen the rights of passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as young children.
Source: CNA
