Loopholes that airlines use to deny compensation to passengers delayed for over three hours should be closed by Transport Committee amendments, voted on Tuesday, to the European Commission's proposal on revised air passenger rights. These amendments further restrict grounds for denying information, compensation and assistance, and make it easier for national authorities to penalise airlines that do not fulfil their obligations.

"Today, we see massive abuse of passenger rights by certain airlines which simply ignore passengers' complaints or requests, or systematically cite 'extraordinary circumstances' as grounds for denying them compensation", said Georges Bach (EPP, LU), who is steering the legislative proposal through Parliament. "Due to lack of information and enforcement by authorities, only 2% of passengers entitled to compensation actually get it under current rules", he added. MEPs tabled some 600 amendments to tighten up the Commission proposal and "put the passenger back at the centre of this legislation", said Mr Bach.

Clear definition of unforeseeable "extraordinary circumstances"

The "extraordinary circumstances" in which compensation may be denied should be limited to events (listed in the annexes) beyond the actual control of the air carrier and which "could not be avoided even if reasonable measures had been correctly taken by the airline". Any airline wishing to deny passengers compensation for flight disruption, should have to prove the existence of such circumstances, in writing, to the passenger, MEPs added.

Compensation due after three hours' delay on short flights

In the absence of such extraordinary circumstances, airlines should offer passengers compensation, reimbursement and/or re-routing in the event of denial of boarding or delays upon arrival exceeding:

• three hours for flights of up to 2,500 km (€300 compensation),
• five hours for flights of up to 6,000 km (€400), or
• seven hours for flights of over 6,000 km (€600).

The Commission's proposal of 5-9-12 hour thresholds was rejected.

Passengers should be given the right to disembark after three' hours maximum delay on the tarmac (down from five according to the Commission proposal).

Competent staff to inform and help stranded passengers in airports

Whereas the Commission proposal would require airlines only to inform delayed passengers on-the-spot, no later than 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time, MEPs say air carriers should have to set up contact points at airports where staff can inform passengers faced with flight disruptions or luggage delays, damage or loss, of their rights and choices, including complaint procedures and forms, and help them by taking immediate action. If an airline fails to respond in full to complaints within two months, it must be deemed to accept the passenger's claim, according to the amended new rules.

Further improvements for passengers

• Detailed information on hand-luggage allowances (including possible extra charges) and complaint procedures with regard to air passenger rights and luggage handling should be provided at reservation and contact addresses for complaints clearly indicated on the ticket, MEPs say.
• Coats, handbags and at least one bag of airport shopping should be accepted on all flights, in addition to the prescribed maximum cabin baggage allowance, MEPs added.
• Passengers who have not used their outward flight must not be denied boarding or face any extra cost on the return flight.
• Free-of-charge assistance (food, drinks, accommodation when necessary) must be provided already after two hours' delay, even in "extraordinary circumstances".

Final vote possible before EU elections

The legislative resolution was approved by 37 against 3 votes, no abstentions. The plenary vote is scheduled for 4 February, to allow time to negotiate a first-reading agreement with Council before the May 2014 European elections.

REF. : 20131217IPR31104

www.europarl.europa.eu

On December 17, in Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ministers unanimously reached political agreement on the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks available next year in EU waters and for EU vessels in certain non–EU waters on a basis of a Presidency compromise, drawn up in agreement with the European Commission and taking into consideration some main remarks/concerns from EU Member States. Lithuanian Presidency broke with the traditional overnight councils and the above mentioned agreement reached in record time.

The European Commission today adopted "Shift2Rail", a new public-private partnership to invest just under €1 billion in research and innovation to get more passengers and freight onto Europe's railways. Rail is amongst the most efficient and climate-friendly forms of transport, but currently it only carries about only 10% of European cargo and 6% of passengers each year.

Starting on 6 December, the airline company Air Lituanica operates flights to Berlin on its own. Passengers who had bought air tickets from Estonian Air but the flights to this destination were cancelled will be offered airfares not higher than those paid by them for the flight with Estonian Air.

The Permanent Representatives (COREPER II) on December 13 in Brussels has agreed to add 19 countries to the EU visa-free list. The EU Council will now enter into negotiations with the European Parliament, with a view to the final adoption of the decision early next year.

Improvements in public transport and education are turning the capital of Lithuania into an attractive 21st century city, says the Mayor of Vilnius.

Today, December 10th in Strasbourg, European Parliament has rejected a harmful, from the point of view of family and Christian ethics, report of Edite Estrela on the reproductive and sexual health and rights in this domain. The tension in the meeting hall was rising until the last moment before voting on an alternative project, that was reported by a coalition of two fractions – EPP and ECR , to which Valdemar Tomaševski belongs. The very important voting was won with the results 334 to 327. This is an important event and victory in European Parliament that protects European families and children from intrusive sexual propaganda.

The EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has today updated its guidance on the use of portable electronic devices on board (PED), including smartphones, tablets and e-readers. It confirms that these devices may be kept switched on in "Flight Mode" (non-transmitting mode) throughout the journey (including taxiing, take-off and landing) without a risk to safety. EU Transport Commissioner, Vice President Siim Kallas has asked EASA to accelerate its safety review of the use of electronic devices on board in transmitting mode, with new guidance expected to be published early in 2014.

On Wednesday 4th December the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I) endorsed the interim report from the Inter-institutional Task Force on Multiannual plans. The initiative, proposed under the Irish Presidency and undertaken by the Lithuanian Presidency, aimed to address the inter-institutional issues and agree a way forward to facilitate the development and introduction of multiannual plans under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The golden-voiced Liudas Mikalauskas, along with the unusual combination of the Bass Arco string quartet (three cellos and a double bass), invites listeners to a new musical experience – a pleasurable evening with the songs of Vytautas Kernagis on December 10, 2013.

The soloist has this to say about the programme: "We wanted to put something together that was different, something that would make us hear the music within and share it with others. The cello has been associated with the human voice for a very long time, and there are no other instruments that harmonize so well with vocals that are able to touch at the heart strings so delicately as ours".

Program includes songs of the repertoire of V. Kernagis, including his best and most beautiful songs – "Baltas pauketis", "Kalnai ant kalnu", "Iseinu", "Musu dienos kaip svente", and more.

www.baltic-course.com