A Compromise with No Winners in Europe: BARIG on the Reform of the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation
This week, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU agreed on the revision of the EU Regulation (EU) No 261, known as the Air Passenger Rights Regulation. The international airline association BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany) is critical of the agreement that has now been made, as it is missing their actual objective and is not in the interest of either passengers or the European aviation industry.
BARIG Chairman and Executive Director Michael Hoppe states accordingly:
“The reform has failed. A revision of EU261 that would have been of benefit to all parties involved would have been possible, but, unfortunately, this opportunity was missed. The compromise now reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU contains only marginal changes, further increases the bureaucratic burden, and, overall, serves neither the interests of passengers nor those of airlines. Due to the currently very tight time frames, airlines have hardly any scope to provide a replacement aircraft in the case of an exceptional delay. Particularly for medium- and long-haul flights, it is impossible to organize replacement flights or carry out necessary repairs within such a short time.
Punctuality is a core priority for airlines. Anyone who chooses to travel by air—whether for business or personal reasons—wants to reach their destination safely and reliably. At the same time, air travel must also be affordable. EU261, which has now been agreed on, however, means greater complexity, additional bureaucracy, and rising costs. Worse still: the missed opportunity for reform further weakens the competitiveness of European air travel on the international level. As is well known, this leads to a further reduction in flight offerings with diminished connectivity and a shift in traffic. By inflexibly insisting on maintaining the status quo of EU261, the EU has imposed a compromise on its citizens, the economy, and the aviation industry that leaves no winners in Europe.
Air travel connects people and countries and ensures the swift and seamless movement of goods. As part of the air transport infrastructure, airlines need further improvements in airspace management and the continuous development of systems. Inefficiencies must be eliminated in order to significantly reduce chronic bottlenecks in airspace. National and European policymakers must ensure that the necessary changes are made—quickly, effectively, and sustainably.”
Further current BARIG topics and news on aviation are available at www.barig.aero/en/news.
