Brussels, July 22, 2024 (Lusa) - Only 19% of Portuguese respondents in a Eurobarometer released on Monday, below the 30% of the European Union (EU) average, say they know their rights well when travelling by air, a situation that worries the European Commission, which has released guidelines.
In a Eurobarometer on passenger rights in the EU published today, Brussels concluded that only 19% of Portuguese respondents (out of a total of 26,601 interviews carried out in January and February this year) feel well informed when travelling by air, which compares with 30% in the 27 countries as a whole.
It's only worse for ship/ferry transport (14%, compared to 16% in the EU) and better for rail (20%, 33% in the EU) and bus transport (23%, 27% in the EU).
In a statement, the European Commission said that ‘passengers need more information about their rights’. This is why it published revised interpretative guidelines on air passenger rights today, which aim to facilitate compliance and harmonise application by national bodies.
‘Since 2016, the Commission has been providing guidance to address common concerns raised by national enforcement bodies, passengers and their associations and industry representatives. Today's revision considers the judgements of the Court of Justice handed down since 2016, which clarify certain provisions and allow for a more effective and coherent application of the rules,’ he points out.
The EU is the only place in the world where passengers are protected by a complete set of rights, whether they are travelling by plane, train, ship or bus.
These rights include non-discrimination, accurate, timely and accessible information and immediate and proportionate assistance, particularly in situations such as overbooking, cancellations and delays, which, as Brussels points out today, require airline compensation.
The information, published on the EU government's website and aimed at transport service providers and national organisations, comes at the height of the aviation season.
On Friday, a global computer failure in Microsoft's system caused worldwide constraints at airports, leading to flight delays, cancellations and luggage problems.
ANE/ADB // ADB.
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