EU agreement on air passenger
Photo: Harry Nakos/AP/TT

EU agreement on air passenger rights welcomed by consumers

European Parliament negotiators have approved an agreement on air passenger rights. One provision gives passengers the right to bring a small bag or backpack on board at no extra cost.

"This is great news for consumers and an important win for the consumer movement. Until the very end, we were worried about significant deterioration," Maria Wiezell, consumer law expert at the Swedish Consumers Association, said in a press release.

The agreement, which has been negotiated for over a decade, also means, among other things, that passengers with reduced mobility have the right to compensation or rebooking from airlines if they miss a flight due to lack of assistance, said the Parliament.

Another point is that airlines are not allowed to charge an additional fee for people with reduced mobility to sit with accompanying passengers.

The agreement also concerns rules on compensation for flight delays and cancellations as well as increased transparency and comparability in ticket pricing.

"Now we have to follow up to make sure that the airlines are really doing what they should. It is far too complicated to request compensation today when trips are delayed or canceled. Only just over one in three travelers exercise their rights," Maria Wiezell said.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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