Maintaining the current delay and compensation rules will not reduce or prevent delays and cancellations, most of which are outside airline control. Obliging airlines to artificially inflate prices by including the cost of hand baggage in the displayed airfare contradicts established EU law protecting opt-ins instead of opt-outs.
“The commitment the Council and European Parliament have shown on passenger rights must now be turned towards managing the transition to net zero and ending Europe’s airspace inefficiencies,” stated Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E). “Use aviation EU ETS funds to purchase SAF and finance clean technologies, spend air traffic charges to recruit more controllers, and address carbon and business leakage that leaves European airlines and destinations less competitive than their global rivals.”
