Delays. There’s nothing more frustrating for holidaymakers. Especially when your flight is late as a result of often unspecified ‘technical issues’. But now this frustration for flyers is at an end, thanks to a landmark ruling that was made in the European Court of Justice last week, which now restricts carriers from using these sort of glitches as an excuse for not paying compensation to passengers whose flight is delayed for three hours or more.
Under current EU statute 261 passengers are entitled to up to €600 under these circumstances, but many airlines have been refusing to compensate delayed travelers accordingly, as they were waiting to see the outcome of last week’s court case. Which revolved around the 29 hour delay of a KLM flight from Ecuador to Amsterdam in 2009.
The ECJ ruled that technical issues were within the boundaries of control of the airlines and as such they would now have to pay compensation on all claims made by passengers on this basis, going back for a period of six years. Now, airlines can only justify nonpayment of compensation if flights have been delayed by weather problems, air traffic control strikes or industrial action. You can read more about your passenger rights here.
In the UK this could have quite a profound impact as a number of carriers here, including Ryanair and Thomas Cook had been holding out in hope of a more favourable judgment. But the Civil Aviation Authority has now indicated that they must pay up or face further sanctions, which could ultimately lead to court action.
For passengers though this is great news and a real blow for consumer rights in the face of big business interests.
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