Passenger Compensation EC “Maladministration”

European airlines have launched an attack on new regulations that give passengers stronger rights to compensation for delays and cancellations.

The regulations came into force earlier this year and oblige airlines to pay fixed levels of compensation that can sometimes exceed the price of the fare paid in Europe’s growing low-fares environment.

The Association of European Regional Airlines has lodged a formal complaint alleging “maladminis-tration” by the European Commission, and claims that information outlining the compensation scheme is misleading and, in part, incorrect.

The association says passengers’ expectations have been raised beyond the rights granted in the new regulations, particularly by suggesting that compensation for cancellations is payable under many circumstances when it is not.

The association says the European Commission’s leaflet of guidance to the traveling public is misleading as well.