The European Commission launched a call for evidence on the revision of EU air services rules (Regulation (EC) N° 1008/2008). The current EU air services rules cover areas such as operating requirements, the freedom to provide services and pricing freedom. The initiative will update those rules in light of lessons learnt, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, changing market dynamics and geopolitical and environmental developments. The aim is to ensure that the EU internal aviation market continues to be consumer-centric, affordable, reliable, socially and environmentally sustainable and globally competitive.
EPF has submitted its feedback to the call for evidence, in which we put forward the following priority topics that the revision of the Air Services Regulation should address:
- Price transparency. To safeguard and enhance price competition and price transparency, specific provisions are needed with regard to ancillary services. Fares and (core) ancillary fees should be available on all distribution channels, allowing passengers to compare offers across carriers on a like-for-like basis. Furthermore, the right to reimbursement in case of cancellation by the passenger needs to be clarified, non-discrimination in access to fares has to be guaranteed, and more effective enforcement and consumer redress options are necessary.
- Better passenger protection. The revision also needs to address two important problem areas, announced by the Better Protection for Passengers and their Rights initiative and aligning passenger rights under the Package Travel Directive & Air Passenger Rights: protection against the risk of a liquidity crisis or an insolvency (mandatory insolvency protection mechanism/ guarantee schemes & designation of public authorities to coordinate repatriation and passenger assistance); and the right to self-cancellation by air passengers, notably (but not only) in case of a major crisis.
👉 For further information, we refer to the attached document.
Stay informed!