Comments
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has asked Governments across the world to consider adopting consumer protection regulations without territorial limitations, to make passengers aware of their rights in case of flight disruption and other problems.
“Airlines are aligned with Governments in wanting to get their passengers to their destinations on time. But sometimes that is just not possible. Governments should set some simple guarantees on what passengers should expect in such situations. But un-harmonised and extra-territorial regulations can cause utter confusion for international travellers,” IATA chief Tony Tyler said here.
“Being stuck in Europe on a disrupted trip from the US to Israel is bad enough for a passenger. Regulation shouldn’t worsen the situation by presenting them with a bewildering array of three conflicting passenger rights regimes,” he said at the 69th IATA annual conference, which unanimously endorsed a set of core principles for Governments to consider when adopting consumer protection rules.
Core principles
The core principles call on Governments to develop consumer protection regulations that are clear, unambiguous and aligned with international conventions, and ensure passenger access to information concerning their rights, fares, including taxes and charges (prior to purchasing a ticket), the actual operator of the flight, and regular situational updates in the case of service disruptions.
Tytler said Governments were “turning a blind eye to the problems that they are creating. We want regulators to understand that travellers are our customers. And we want customers to have the best possible experience because our businesses depend on customers coming back. So, the industry is providing a fresh solution. These core principles on consumer protection will help Governments harmonise their various regimes.”
Some 50 countries have passenger rights requirements affecting air transport and several more are considering imposing them.
nivedita.ganguly@thehindu.co.in
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.