WRITTEN QUESTION E-0652/00 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Air transport liberalisation.
C 26 E/80 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 The communication will cover passengersí rights and treatment in a wide sense. It will consider not only legislation but also voluntary commitments taken by airlines, after discussion with the Commission and passengersí representatives which may sometimes be the most effective course of action. This is clearly a policy for the medium term. In addition it is essential to raise passengersí awareness of their existing rights under Community law, so that they can insist on their respect. The Commission plans an immediate initiative to do this, involving the publication and display of a charter of air passengersí rights in airports and in the offices of airlines and travel agents. It follows that the Commission has ambitious plans to protect passengersí rights and improve the service that they receive, with both immediate and medium-term action. (2001/C 26 E/098) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0652/00 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Air transport liberalisation At present many passengers miss their air travel connections because airlines, despite computer link-ups between them, do not provide boarding cards for connecting flights operated by other airlines, in order to force passengers to buy the tickets for their whole journey from the same airline. Another fairly frequent practice is not to book luggage through to its final destination as different airlines operate different sections of the journey. Are there any regulations to avoid these abusive practices by airlines? If not, does the Commission intend to introduce any kind of regulation to protect consumers from these abusive practices by airlines? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (2 May 2000) A central aim of Community policy for air transport has been to create a single, competitive market, which has now been largely realised. This implies that airlines are free to compete and to decide which services to offer their customers, subject to legislation on safety, the environment, passengersí rights and so on. The Commission is working on the strengthening of passengersí contractual rights and on the promotion of voluntary initiatives by airlines to improve their treatment of passengers. It will present a communica- tion on the subject, to be ready in June 2000. In the meantime, it will launch a campaign to inform passengers of the rights that they already enjoy under Community law by arranging for the display of a charter of air passengersí rights in airports and elsewhere