Enforcement action by the CAA!

Alan_Bowen

The CAA have announced this morning that they are taking enforcement action against five airlines that refuse to pay EU261 compensation where the delay results in missed connections. The five airlines are some of those frequently appearing here, namely Emirates, American, Etihad, Turkish and Singapore. In fact the CAA says Emirates has been the most complained about airline according to their own data. Just how effective the action will be remains to be seen.

The CAA are also taking action against Vueling the Spanish low cost carrier, with something of a reputation for delays, not for failing to pay compensation but failing to look after customers when they are delayed.

Lets hope the action, and the publicity it may generate, gets these airlines to step up and act, they may not like the law but it is the law

richardw

The horse's mouth https://www.caa.co.uk/News/Five-major-airlines-face-enforcement-action-for-denying-passengers-compensation-for-delayed-flights/

Vauban

It's very interesting - and as welcome as it is surprising.

I was struck by the comment of one of the CAA's senior officials: "Airlines' first responsibility should be looking after their passengers, not finding ways in which they can prevent passengers upholding their rights. ... Where we see evidence of passengers systematically being denied their rights, we will not hesitate to take the necessary action to ensure airlines change their policies and their customers get the assistance they are entitled to."

This is such a world away from where the CAA used to be - and not all that long ago either. Who remembers the CAA's active championing of that dreadful EU list of extraordinary circumstances that sought, in effect, to wreck the protections that the Regulation provides?

Assuming we take then at their word, I wonder what has induced the CAA's change of heart?

Tyzap

In the editors note at the bottom of the article is this...

Later this year, the CAA will be carrying out a further review of airline compliance with legal obligations to reroute passengers who experienced cancelled flights.

So perhaps we can expect more to come.

Vauban says...Assuming we take then at their word, I wonder what has induced the CAA's change of heart?

The report says that apart from Turkish Airlines, none of the other airlines facing enforcement action have joined ADR services'.

This could be a way of saying to the none ADR compliant airlines, if we have to deal with you ourselves, then we will deal with you harshly! Until you join an ADR scheme and remove yourselves from our responsibility.

We know on this forum that there are other airlines which are not complying with the regulations but no mention was made of those, curious!

JPears

Yes, interesting that Thomson are not mentioned, surely one of the worst at the moment for using any excuse not to pay out.

Also there are no actual details on how enforcement will be effected.

fifeken

Tyzap wrote: »

The report says that apart from Turkish Airlines, none of the other airlines facing enforcement action have joined ADR services'.

This could be a way of saying to the none ADR compliant airlines, if we have to deal with you ourselves, then we will deal with you harshly! Until you join an ADR scheme and remove yourselves from our responsibility.

Emirates use the European Commission's ADR scheme which doesn't appear on the CAA's list.

http://www.odreurope.com/