The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has threatened legal action against five major airlines for refusing to compensate their passengers as required by European law.
CAA said American, Etihad, Emirates, Singapore and Turkish Airlines had each admitted that they don’t pay compensation if a passenger suffers delay in the first leg of a journey, thereby missing a connecting flight and arriving at their final destination over three hours late.
Under the European rules, passengers should be compensated if they arrive at their final destination of their journey more than three hours late, even when booked on a connecting flight.
The law means a passenger is entitled to compensation when delay is caused by missing a connecting flight. Passengers on all flights departing from the EU, regardless of the airline’s nationality are legally entitled to cash payment of up to €400 (£338), or €600 (£508) for all delays of more than four hours on flights over 3,500 km. The rule also applies to connecting flights and only exempts instances where airlines can claim delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Richard Moriarty, director of consumers and markets at the CAA, said: “Any disruption to a flight is frustrating for passengers, but delays that cause people to miss connecting flights have a particularly damaging effect on people’s travel plans.
“That’s why there are clear laws in place to make sure passengers that experience this type of disruption are looked after by their airline and compensated when the disruption was in the airline’s control.”
The Consumer body also condemned the airlines and called on the government to ensure British travellers’ rights are protected after Brexit.
Alex Neill, Which? Managing Director of home and legal services said: “It is appalling that some airlines believe they are above the law and do not have to pay the compensation they are legally entitled to,”
“It should be much simpler for passengers to claim money for delays and the Government must legislate for a new ombudsman that all airlines are required to join.”
