Trasporto aereo: l Europa rafforza i diritti dei passeggeri

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1 IP/05/181 Bruxelles, 16 febbraio 2005 Trasporto aereo: l Europa rafforza i diritti dei passeggeri A partire da 17 febbraio i cittadini che viaggiano in aereo hanno maggiori diritti. Grazie a un nuovo regolamento, che deve essere applicato in tutti gli Stati membri, i passeggeri del trasporto aereo usufruiscono di una maggiore protezione in caso di negato imbarco, cancellazione del volo o ritardo prolungato. Jacques Barrot, vicepresidente della Commissione europea e responsabile dei trasporti, ha sottolineato: «L aumento del numero di passeggeri del trasporto aereo deve accompagnarsi a un'adeguata protezione dei loro diritti. Per i cittadini questo è un esempio concreto dei vantaggi che l Unione europea apporta alla vita quotidiana. La competitività e la concorrenza nel settore aereo vanno di pari passo con la garanzia dei diritti dei passeggeri». Nonostante gli sforzi del settore, talvolta i passeggeri incontrano difficoltà a far valere i loro diritti in caso di inconvenienti durante i viaggi in aereo. Per esempio, nel 2004 oltre cinque milioni di bagagli sono stati smarriti o danneggiati dalle compagnie aeree, mentre viaggiatori si sono visti negare l imbarco nel Il nuovo regolamento 1 che entra in vigore domani, migliora sensibilmente la protezione dei diritti dei passeggeri aerei nell Unione e dovrebbe contribuire a una drastica riduzione dei casi di negato imbarco per i quali le compagnie aeree dovranno versare compensazioni dissuasive (250 euro per le tratte aeree pari o inferiori a 1 500, 400 euro per quelle comprese fra e e 600 euro per quelle superiori a ). I passeggeri potranno ottenere un risarcimento anche per la cancellazione tardiva del volo e riceveranno assistenza in caso di ritardi prolungati. Non è previsto alcun risarcimento se la compagnia aerea può dimostrare che la cancellazione è dovuta a circostanze straordinarie inevitabili. Il regolamento si applica a tutti i voli delle compagnie europee, compresi i charter, da e verso gli aeroporti europei e a tutti i voli provenienti dall Unione europea. La Commissione è convinta che l applicazione di questi nuovi diritti migliorerà sensibilmente la qualità dei servizi offerti dalle compagnie aeree alla clientela. La competitività delle compagnie ne risulterà rafforzata. 1 Regolamento (CE) n. 261/2004 del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio, dell'11 febbraio 2004, che istituisce regole comuni in materia di compensazione ed assistenza ai passeggeri in caso di negato imbarco, di cancellazione del volo o di ritardo prolungato e che abroga il regolamento (CEE) n. 295/91.

2 Per far valere efficacemente i propri diritti, i passeggeri devono essere adeguatamente informati. La Commissione europea ha quindi deciso di avviare una campagna di informazione negli aeroporti e nelle agenzie di viaggio dell Unione europea. Anche le compagnie aeree hanno l obbligo di informare i passeggeri sui loro diritti. Il nuovo regolamento prevede inoltre che ogni Stato membro istituisca un organismo indipendente incaricato di trattare le denunce dei passeggeri e le eventuali controversie con le compagnie, evitando così di ricorrere a lunghi e costosi procedimenti giudiziari. Attualmente soltanto 15 Stati 2 hanno istituito questo organismo: la Commissione adirà la Corte di giustizia contro gli altri Stati membri che non ottempereranno a tale obbligo. La Commissione è inoltre pronta a fornire assistenza e consulenza ai passeggeri i cui diritti non sono rispettati. Negli ultimi tre anni la Commissione ha ricevuto ed esaminato oltre denunce. Per maggiori informazioni e documentazione (dépliant, poster, regolamenti, ecc.) consultare il sito web della DG TREN: All attenzione dei media audiovisivi: La DG TREN ha prodotto un video, intitolato «L Europe renforce les droits des passagers» (L Europa rafforza i diritti dei passeggeri), disponibile presso il Servizio audiovisivi della Commissione. Per riceverne una copia (lingue disponibili: FR-EN-DE-ES-IT) contattare: Daphné LEVEQUE: leveque.daphne@cec.eu.int o mediatheque@cec.eu.int 2 Elenco 2

3 Regulation on Denied Boarding and Cancellations or Long Delays Events Denied Boarding Cancellations Long Delays (3) Regulation Financial Compensation Reimbursement Meals Financial Reimbursement or Re-routing Meals Hotels Reimburs ement Meals Hotels > 3500 or Re-Routing and Hotels Compensation Existing Regulation [EC]295/91 n/a n/a included included n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a New Regulation n/a 600 included included as denied boarding (1)(2) included (4) included included included (4) included include d Footnotes : (1) Unless carrier can prove that it is not responsible (i.e. extraordinary circumstances cause the cancellation). (2) Unless carrier informs passenger of cancellation two weeks or more before departure or offers alternative flight that does not delay passenger more than 2 or 4 hours. [2 hours delayed by re-routing when cancellation announced 7 days; 4 hours delayed by re-routing when cancellation confirmed between >7-14 days] (3) Two, three or four hours depending on distance flight. (4) When delay at least five hours

4 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS AIR PASSENGER RIGHTS FROM 17 FEBRUARY What are the principal improvements of the new Regulation which enters into force on 17 February 2005? The new Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delays of flights, will enter into force on 17 February This Regulation replaces an earlier regulation of 1991 which gave rights to passengers only in the event of denied boarding. On one hand, the new Regulation increases passengers rights in the event of denied boarding, and on the other hand, it recognises for the first time the rights of passengers in the event of cancellation or in the event of long delays. Here are some examples of the improvements: 1. The amounts of compensation to be paid to passengers by the airlines in the event of denied boarding are considerably increased and pass from: a. from 150 to 250 on flights up to 1500, b. from 150 to 400 for flights between 1500 and 3500 c. from 300 to 600 for flights longer than This compensation may be decreased by half if the passenger is not delayed by more than 2, 3 or 4 hours respectively. 2. Passengers rights are extended in the of cancellation: a right to the same compensation as in the event of over-booking, under certain conditions, and to assistance (meals, accommodation if the alternative flight proposed is the following day) and to the possibility of refunding or of rebooking to the final destination following the choice of the passenger. An airline is not required to pay compensation if it is in a position to prove that cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided. 3. In the event of long delays, the airline has to offer meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation if necessary, and means of communication. If the delay exceeds 5 hours, it has to propose refunding the ticket (with, if necessary, a free flight to your point of departure). 4. The new Regulation now has a broader scope. Rights cover all types of flight by European airlines, whether charter, regular, or domestic, departing from an EU airport (including the French overseas departments), or departing from an airport outside the EU to an EU airport, when the flight is operated by an EU airline and the passenger has not received any compensation in a third country. As in the earlier Regulation, and still within the scope of the legislative text, these laws apply to all airlines, including "low cost" carriers. 5. Passengers will now be able to apply, if necessary, to national control organisations especially established to deal with their complaints and their disagreements with airlines. This procedure will be less long and less expensive than a legal procedure. 2

5 2. Is it true that an appeal has been lodged with the European Court of Justice against the validity of this Regulation? Accordingly will the application of this Regulation be suspended? A British national judge has indeed put a preliminary question to the Court of Justice about the legality of this Regulation under a national procedure following an appeal by certain airline associations (IATA, the association "low cost" carriers and an association of insurers). The Court of Justice should, in theory, decide this year. Meanwhile, the Regulation remains entirely valid as the Court has not followed the request of these companies to suspend the effects of the Regulation. 3. Will the appearance of these new rights not cause any sharp increase in the costs of the airlines? Better protection of passengers rights will contribute to improving the image of air transport and in particular of certain companies. The quality of service forms part of competitiveness and runs in parallel with guarantees of passengers rights. In particular, the rights contained in this Regulation will help to greatly reduce the problems caused to passengers by the practice of denied boarding, of cancellation or of long delays, which give a bad image to the airlines. 4. Am I protected if I fly with a non-eu airline? Yes, but only if the flight (whether regular or charter) with this non-eu airline leaves an EU airport. 5. Why are passengers not covered when outside the EU? The rights under this Regulation cover all types of flight by European airlines, charter or regular, even if the flight departs from an airport located abroad when this flight is to the EU and the flight is operated by an airline licensed in the EU, provided the passengers have not benefited from services or received compensation or assistance in the third country (as for example in the case of the United States). The Regulation cannot cover flights by non-eu airlines departing an airport outside the EU (to an airport located in a Member State) because this would be an extra-territorial clause, extending rights and creating obligations for non-eu airlines, beyond the borders of the EU. 6. Am I protected if my ticket is issued under a fidelity or other commercial programme? Yes, the rights under the Regulation are entirely applicable to passengers flying for example with standard "frequent flyer" programmes. However, these rights will not apply to the passengers who travel free of charge or at a reduced tariff not available to the general public. 7. Am I also protected if I use helicopter services? This regulation applies only to passengers of powered, fixed-wing planes. 3

6 8. Am I protected in the event of extraordinary circumstances? Yes, passengers always are entitled to be assisted and to be informed, even in the event of exceptional circumstances, and can consequently enjoy the rights contained in the Regulation, except for the right to be compensated in the event of cancellation. In this case, it is up to the airline company to prove that the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all the reasonable measures had been taken. For example, safety warnings or an unforeseen strike are circumstances that a company cannot avoid. 9. In the event of cancellation of a flight due to force majeure, how can I check that it is indeed an extraordinary circumstance which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken? According to the Regulation, the company has to prove that it is indeed due to such an exceptional circumstance. The passenger can always require the proof. If the passenger is not satisfied with this information, he can refer the matter to the body designated by the Member State. One aim of this Regulation is to also give a means of redress to passengers faced with arguments that airlines sometimes use to justify cancellations. 10. If the problem is not of the responsibility for the airline (for example delays or cancellations due to the bad air traffic management, equipment not provided by the airport, etc), why should the airline have to be responsible for the passengers? The objective of the Regulation is to give a high level of protection to passengers. The airline will be obliged, in these cases, to grant the passenger the rights provided for under the Regulation. The airline subject to cancellation or delay may always be able to request damages from the third persons responsible for the problem under the applicable relevant laws. 11. Does this Regulation also provide for rights in the event of problems with baggage, or in the event of injury or death following an accident? The Regulation which enters into force on 17 February 2005 does not cover these aspects. However, other EU legislation provides rights for passengers in the event of problems with baggage and in the event of injury or death following an accident. The passengers of an EU airline will be well protected whatever their destination and whatever the flight taken, whether it is an international or domestic flight. International legislation also provides some other rights which can apply to passengers of non-eu airlines. In particular, in the event of damage or loss of baggage, the responsibility of an airline is limited to 1000 SDR (1 SDR = ). 12. What can I do if the airline refuses me my rights? You should address a complaint to the national authorities designated by each Member State. For the names and the addresses of these, you can call the free-phone number: , or send an to the following address: mail@europe-direct.cec.eu.int. The list of the authorities is also available on Internet at: _en.pdf. 4

7 13. Certain Member States have not yet designated the authorities to deal with complaints. What can I do then? Indeed, despite repeated requests by the European Commission, 12 Member States have not yet communicated details of these bodies, leaving the passenger without protection. For the Member States which have not yet designated the authorities, the Commission will use all means, including infringement procedures, to compel them to apply the provisions adopted. In such cases, passengers may address their complaints to a court. Meanwhile, passengers can also notify the European Commission s Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of their complaint, address: B-1049 Brussels (fax: 00(32-2) , tren-aprights@cec.eu.int). 14. Under this regulation, do people with reduced mobility or children receive individual treatment? 1. People with reduced mobility and unaccompanied children must be provided with these rights as a priority. Non-sighted people and people with impaired vision must receive information on their rights from the airlines in an accessible format. 15. Cancellation, denied boarding or long flight delays cause a passenger damages above the compensation or the refund provided for under this Regulation: can they ask for additional compensation? The rights recognised under the Regulation do not exclude the possibility of a passenger or third person claiming complementary compensation or compensation for damages (except in the case of passengers who voluntarily gave up their reservation following denied boarding), under applicable national law. The compensation granted under the Regulation may nevertheless be deduced from any such compensation granted for damages. 16. Can the rights provided under this Regulation be limited or increased, in particular by an exemption or a restrictive measure appearing in the contract of carriage? No. Such a clause would be pointless. If however these exemptions applied, the passenger could always seek complementary compensation through the courts or the competent authority. 17. In the event of problems, who will inform me of my rights? First of all, all air carriers must post a notice at the check-in area announcing that in the event of problems you can receive a text stating your rights. Moreover, in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or a delay of at least two hours, airlines are required to provide passengers with written notice of their rights. Lastly, the European Commission has launched an information campaign in airports, travel agencies and with airlines to promote of passengers rights via posters and leaflets. In addition, the web site of the European Commission s Directorate-General for Energy and Transport gives relevant information for passengers: 5