• “One piece of luggage weighing up to 7 kg is perfectly reasonable. It seems only common sense to us that children up to the age of 12 should automatically be seated next to the accompanying adult, without any additional seat charge,” pointed out the Romanian MEP.

The European Parliament wants to radically change the laws on air passenger rights in the EU. Promoted by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, of which PSD MEP Mihai Tudose is a member, the reform will prohibit charging for hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg, in addition to the personal luggage that is already free (handbag or backpack). Children up to 12 years of age would be able to sit next to their companions without paying an additional seat fee, and compensation for passengers in the event of flight delays or cancellations would be based on much more precise criteria.
„We want clear and simple rules for air passenger rights. The current rules are long outdated: for example, the regulation on compensation for flight delays or cancellations dates back to 2004! In the European Parliament, over the last two weeks, there has been a debate in plenary and a vote in the Transport Committee, followed by a vote in plenary on the position we will take to the negotiations with the Member States, represented by the EU Council. These are the procedural steps, and our political group, the PSD, will fight to ensure that the reform is not watered down under pressure from the airlines.
Everyone understood the need to save the aviation sector after the long-term suspension of flights during the pandemic, but now it is time to act for the citizens who want rules that protect their rights in the face of the airlines’ pursuit of profit. More than a third of a low-cost airline’s profits come from additional fees for baggage, preferred seats, and priority boarding,” said Mihai Tudose.
The president of the PSD National Council said that after 12 years of deadlock, there is hope for an interinstitutional agreement on this issue, after the transport ministers of the EU states managed to adopt a common position on June 5.
„I don’t see why we should waste any more time. Since 2014, we have had a decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which established that hand luggage is a necessary element of passenger air transport and therefore must be free of charge if it is of reasonable size and weight. So charging for cabin luggage is now abusive! We believe that a bag weighing up to 7 kg is as reasonable as possible. It also seems common sense to us that children up to 12 years of age should automatically be seated next to the accompanying adult, without an additional seat charge. And in terms of compensation and reimbursement, we want the introduction of decent hourly thresholds for passenger compensation and a common claim form,” emphasized MEP Mihai Tudose.

Source: Obiectiv Vocea Brăilei

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