Aviation: Compensation

(asked on 27th June 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of airlines with their obligations to supply passengers with (a) food and (b) other essentials in the event of delayed or cancelled flights; and what steps he plans to take to increase compliance.


Answered by
Robert Courts Portrait
Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This question was answered on 30th June 2022

There is a framework of legislation in place to protect consumer’s rights when travelling by air, including a passenger’s right to care. In the event of flight cancellations and long delays, airlines are obliged to offer passengers free of charge meals and refreshments, and in certain cases hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other). Airlines are also obliged to provide passengers about their rights in those situations.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the Regulator for aviation, are responsible for the enforcement activities. They conduct assessments of industry and take forward action if breaches are found. The Government works closely with the CAA and will continue to do so.

We recently consulted on a range of consumer policy reforms, including additional powers for the CAA to enforce consumer rights and mandatory alternative dispute resolution for all airlines operating in the UK, to enable individuals to seek redress. We are currently reviewing all responses and will set out next steps in due course.

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