Source::Breaking Travel News
With the scrapping of COVID-19 tests for arrivals and with Boris Johnson encouraging travel to the UK, they have doubled down on opening the country and the recovery of the aviation sector. The UK government have taken another step in this direction with their new proposals that will make it easier to seek justice and compensation from any unfair practices happening in the industry.
These new changes include a change from a 'set model' to a fairer system of compensation when domestic flights are delayed. At the moment, travellers would be able to claim their compensation based on the length of the flight delay and the cost of the travel rather than an arbitrary threshold which is currently a three-hour delay.
There is also talk of enforcing all airlines to be a part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, which will give consumers a route to complain and escalate their claims that cannot be settled between the consumers and airline without the need of the court. Proposals dictate that all airlines must join the scheme and provide customers access to these schemes unconditionally.
The Civil Aviation Authority(CAA), the country's regulatory body will also be given increased power to enforce consumer protection law. These new provisions would grant CAA regulators to directly fine the airline for any breaches if appropriate. There is also a discussion of providing wheelchair users and other reduced mobility users to get full compensation for any damage that is caused to the wheelchair or the mobility device during the flight. As it stands, airlines do not have to cover the cost, even if their device is under their care.
The CAA has welcomed these new proposals at expanding passenger rights stating that this consultation has been a clear indication to enhance the enforcement power of CAA and bring the industry in line with other regulators. They hope that the increased power of the CAA will give them enough authority to improve passenger rights and their experience with the aviation industry.
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