Latest news with #OuraniaGeorgoutsakou
Local France
11 hours ago
- Business
- Local France
EU lawmakers vote to ban airlines from charging fees for hand luggage
Passengers travelling in Europe should be able to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop and one small hand luggage without having to pay additional fees, members of the European Parliament transport committee concluded on Tuesday. The position aims to bring into EU law a judgement made by the European Court of justice, which ruled back in 2014 that the 'carrying of hand baggage cannot be made subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions and complies with applicable security requirements'. Currently many low-cost airlines allow passengers to only take one small on-board item for free and charge extra for other hand baggage. The rules vary between airlines and different countries. Tuesday's vote appears to be good news for passengers but it is not final. The change will still have to be endorsed by all MEPs in the full parliament and green lighted by European governments in the EU Council. Airlines against the move Last year the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption fined five airlines €179 million for such practices following a complaint by the Spanish consumer organisation OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios). Consumer groups also lodged a complaint with the European Commission arguing that the EU top court recognised hand luggage as 'an essential aspect of passengers' carriage,' said European consumer organisation BEUC. Advertisement But airlines condemned Tuesday's vote as a limit to 'consumer choice' that will result in 'higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag.' Airlines for Europe (A4E), the group representing major air carriers at the EU level, said that 'travelling light is the choice for hundreds of millions of European passengers'. In Spain, for instance, over 50 million passengers 'didn't need an additional piece of cabin baggage last year and had the choice not to have this included as part of their airfare," A4E said. A4E Managing Director Ourania Georgoutsakou said: 'What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't.' The measure would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union. Advertisement Children must be seated next to accompanying passengers The proposed change to hand luggage fees was part of a package of amendments to passenger rights when travelling by air, rail, sea, coach and inland waterways put forward by the European Commission in 203. The committee also voted to ensure that children under 12 years old are seated next to their accompanying passenger free of charge. People accompanying passengers with reduced mobility should also travel with them for free, and there should be compensation rights in case of loss or damage to their equipment or injury to assistance animals, MEPs said. Italian MEP Matteo Ricci, who is in charge of the file, said the new rules aim to 'protect all passengers, with special attention to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility' and clarify the definition of free hand luggage 'up to a maximum size of 100cm.' Rules for intermediaries New rules also aim to clarify the role of intermediaries, such as ticket vendors or travel agencies, in the reimbursement of air passengers for cancellations, delays or denied boarding. According to the parliament transport committee, these companies should inform passengers at the time of booking about the full cost of the air ticket, intermediation or service fees, and the reimbursement process. This should not take longer than 14 days or, past the deadline, it will be for the air carrier to process the reimbursement within 7 days. Advertisement Multimodal journey In a separate vote, MEPs also backed the proposal to introduce compensation for disruptions in journeys involving at least two modes of transport, for example plane and bus, or train, ferry and plane. If a customer buys a single contract involving multiple transport modes from one operator, and a missed connection results in a delay of 60 minutes or more, the passenger should be offered meals, refreshment and a hotel stay free of charge. 'Switching between transport modes should not mean losing protection against missed connections and assistance', MEPs said. 'Our proposals are intended to strengthen passenger confidence and encourage companies to develop more attractive multimodal offers,' said German MEP Jens Gieseke, who leads on this part. Question on compensation In parallel, the European Parliament and Council are discussing a revision of compensation rules in case of flight delays or cancellations. On Tuesday, MEPs also voted in favour of a common reimbursement form in case of travel disruption, with airlines requested to send passengers the pre-filled form within 48 hours following the problem - 'or activate alternative automatic communication channels'. They also voted on a well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can avoid having to pay compensation.
Local Spain
17 hours ago
- Business
- Local Spain
EU lawmakers vote to ban airlines from charging fees for hand luggage
Passengers travelling in Europe should be able to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop and one small hand luggage without having to pay additional fees, members of the European Parliament transport committee concluded on Tuesday. The position aims to bring into EU law a judgement made by the European Court of justice, which ruled back in 2014 that the 'carrying of hand baggage cannot be made subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions and complies with applicable security requirements'. Currently many low-cost airlines allow passengers to only take one small on-board item for free and charge extra for other hand baggage. The rules vary between airlines and different countries. Tuesday's vote appears to be good news for passengers but it is not final. The change will still have to be endorsed by all MEPs in the full parliament and green lighted by European governments in the EU Council. Airlines against the move Last year the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption fined five airlines €179 million for such practices following a complaint by the Spanish consumer organisation OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios). Consumer groups also lodged a complaint with the European Commission arguing that the EU top court recognised hand luggage as 'an essential aspect of passengers' carriage,' said European consumer organisation BEUC. But airlines condemned Tuesday's vote as a limit to 'consumer choice' that will result in 'higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag.' Airlines for Europe (A4E), the group representing major air carriers at the EU level, said that 'travelling light is the choice for hundreds of millions of European passengers'. In Spain, for instance, over 50 million passengers 'didn't need an additional piece of cabin baggage last year and had the choice not to have this included as part of their airfare," A4E said. A4E Managing Director Ourania Georgoutsakou said: 'What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't.' The measure, which would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union. Children must be seated next to accompanying passengers The proposed change to hand luggage fees was part of a package of amendments to passenger rights when travelling by air, rail, sea, coach and inland waterways put forward by the European Commission in 203. The committee also voted to ensure that children under 12 years old are seated next to their accompanying passenger free of charge. People accompanying passengers with reduced mobility should also travel with them for free, and there should be compensation rights in case of loss or damage to their equipment or injury to assistance animals, MEPs said. Italian MEP Matteo Ricci, who is in charge of the file, said the new rules aim to 'protect all passengers, with special attention to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility' and clarify the definition of free hand luggage 'up to a maximum size of 100cm.' Rules for intermediaries New rules also aim to clarify the role of intermediaries, such as ticket vendors or travel agencies, in the reimbursement of air passengers for cancellations, delays or denied boarding. According to the parliament transport committee, these companies should inform passengers at the time of booking about the full cost of the air ticket, intermediation or service fees, and the reimbursement process. This should not take longer than 14 days or, past the deadline, it will be for the air carrier to process the reimbursement within 7 days. Multimodal journey In a separate vote, MEPs also backed the proposal to introduce compensation for disruptions in journeys involving at least two modes of transport, for example plane and bus, or train, ferry and plane. If a customer buys a single contract involving multiple transport modes from one operator, and a missed connection results in a delay of 60 minutes or more, the passenger should be offered meals, refreshment and a hotel stay free of charge. 'Switching between transport modes should not mean losing protection against missed connections and assistance', MEPs said. 'Our proposals are intended to strengthen passenger confidence and encourage companies to develop more attractive multimodal offers,' said German MEP Jens Gieseke, who leads on this part. Question on compensation In parallel, the European Parliament and Council are discussing a revision of compensation rules in case of flight delays or cancellations. On Tuesday, MEPs also voted in favour of a common reimbursement form in case of travel disruption, with airlines requested to send passengers the pre-filled form within 48 hours following the problem - 'or activate alternative automatic communication channels'. They also voted on a well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can avoid having to pay compensation.
Local Germany
17 hours ago
- Business
- Local Germany
EU lawmakers vote to ban airlines from charging fees for hand luggage
Passengers travelling in Europe should be able to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop and one small hand luggage without having to pay additional fees, members of the European Parliament transport committee concluded on Tuesday. The position aims to bring into EU law a judgement made by the European Court of justice, which ruled back in 2014 that the 'carrying of hand baggage cannot be made subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of its weight and dimensions and complies with applicable security requirements'. Currently many low-cost airlines allow passengers to only take one small on-board item for free and charge extra for other hand baggage. The rules vary between airlines and different countries. Tuesday's vote appears to be good news for passengers but it is not final. The change will still have to be endorsed by all MEPs in the full parliament and green lighted by European governments in the EU Council. Airlines against the move Last year the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption fined five airlines €179 million for such practices following a complaint by the Spanish consumer organisation OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios). Consumer groups also lodged a complaint with the European Commission arguing that the EU top court recognised hand luggage as 'an essential aspect of passengers' carriage,' said European consumer organisation BEUC. Advertisement But airlines condemned Tuesday's vote as a limit to 'consumer choice' that will result in 'higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag.' Airlines for Europe (A4E), the group representing major air carriers at the EU level, said that 'travelling light is the choice for hundreds of millions of European passengers'. In Spain, for instance, over 50 million passengers 'didn't need an additional piece of cabin baggage last year and had the choice not to have this included as part of their airfare," A4E said. A4E Managing Director Ourania Georgoutsakou said: 'What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't.' The measure, which would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union. Advertisement Children must be seated next to accompanying passengers The proposed change to hand luggage fees was part of a package of amendments to passenger rights when travelling by air, rail, sea, coach and inland waterways put forward by the European Commission in 203. The committee also voted to ensure that children under 12 years old are seated next to their accompanying passenger free of charge. People accompanying passengers with reduced mobility should also travel with them for free, and there should be compensation rights in case of loss or damage to their equipment or injury to assistance animals, MEPs said. Italian MEP Matteo Ricci, who is in charge of the file, said the new rules aim to 'protect all passengers, with special attention to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility' and clarify the definition of free hand luggage 'up to a maximum size of 100cm.' Rules for intermediaries New rules also aim to clarify the role of intermediaries, such as ticket vendors or travel agencies, in the reimbursement of air passengers for cancellations, delays or denied boarding. According to the parliament transport committee, these companies should inform passengers at the time of booking about the full cost of the air ticket, intermediation or service fees, and the reimbursement process. This should not take longer than 14 days or, past the deadline, it will be for the air carrier to process the reimbursement within 7 days. Advertisement Multimodal journey In a separate vote, MEPs also backed the proposal to introduce compensation for disruptions in journeys involving at least two modes of transport, for example plane and bus, or train, ferry and plane. If a customer buys a single contract involving multiple transport modes from one operator, and a missed connection results in a delay of 60 minutes or more, the passenger should be offered meals, refreshment and a hotel stay free of charge. 'Switching between transport modes should not mean losing protection against missed connections and assistance', MEPs said. 'Our proposals are intended to strengthen passenger confidence and encourage companies to develop more attractive multimodal offers,' said German MEP Jens Gieseke, who leads on this part. Question on compensation In parallel, the European Parliament and Council are discussing a revision of compensation rules in case of flight delays or cancellations. On Tuesday, MEPs also voted in favour of a common reimbursement form in case of travel disruption, with airlines requested to send passengers the pre-filled form within 48 hours following the problem - 'or activate alternative automatic communication channels'. They also voted on a well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can avoid having to pay compensation.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
EU lawmakers vote to bar carry-on luggage fees on planes
BRUSSELS: European lawmakers pushed on Tuesday to ban airlines from charging passengers for small carry-on luggage in a move strongly opposed by the aviation sector. The European Parliament's transport committee adopted a proposal that would allow travellers to bring a personal item into the cabin, such as a handbag or backpack, and a hand luggage of up to seven kilogrammes (15 pounds) at no extra fee. The measure sought to spare passengers 'unjustified extra costs', said Matteo Ricci, a centre-left lawmaker and bill's lead sponsor. Many low-cost air carriers include only one small on-board item in the ticket, charging extra for other hand baggage. Airlines for Europe (A4E), an industry association, condemned the proposal, suggesting it would result in higher flight prices, upping costs for those who travel light. 'Forcing a mandatory trolley bag... obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,' A4E managing director Ourania Georgoutsakou said ahead of the vote. The measure, which would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union, was adopted as part of a package of amendments to passenger rights rules put forward by the European Commission. The transport committee also voted to introduce a common form for compensation and reimbursement requests as well a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or war, under which airlines can deny those. The proposals must next go to a vote by the full parliament. They are subject to change as they will need to be negotiated with and approved by member states before they can enter into force.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary rails against EU law costing passengers £7 per flight
Twenty years after European air passengers' rights legislation came into effect, airline bosses say the rules – known as EU261 – are costing €8bn per year. Meeting in Brussels, the CEOs of the leading European airline groups said the burden of meeting the regulations is passed on to passengers in higher fares. Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, told The Independent: 'EU261 is costing each one of our passengers €8 (£7) on their ticket price.' Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of the pressure group Airlines for Europe, said: 'The European Commission has confirmed that 261 as it stands today costs €8bn a year. So clearly there's a need to be reformed. 'There's a couple of easy fixes that Airlines for Europe see. First, a list of 'exceptional circumstances'. The courts that have to apply these rules are swamped with requests and paperwork. 'The other is to extend the delay threshold.' At present passengers' entitlement to care begins at two hours on shorter flights. Mr O'Leary told The Independent: 'ATC [air-traffic control delays] starting from next weekend will be considerably more than two hours on many flights.' Carsten Spohr, chief executive of the Lufthansa Group, told The Independent: 'Passengers are paying more for EU261 than the airlines are making in profits.' Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European sustainable transport and tourism commissioner, said: 'Negotiations on passenger rights reform are moving forward. 'We cannot create rules that overwhelm the industry with financial burdens, that risk holding back growth. So we need to balance financial stability for airlines with strong protections for passengers.' Under the European air passengers' rights rules, which the UK copied and pasted after Brexit, airlines have a duty of care at times of disruption – such as the closure of Heathrow airport last Friday following a power cut. At least 250,000 passengers had their flights cancelled on Friday and Saturday. The Independent calculates the cost of care and new flights for them, together with the loss of revenue from cancelled departures, was around £100m. British Airways, which has more than half the flights at Heathrow, is most exposed to the loss. Sophie Chapman, Heathrow's surface access director, told the London Assembly on Thursday morning: 'The airport is using power like the size of a small city, so it really is very difficult to build resilience for all of the power that the airport would use.' She also said: 'The airport took action overnight to ensure that a full service could run on Saturday and that's exactly what happened.' More than 100 flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled on Saturday, adding to the 1,300-plus cancellations on Friday.
