Government Confirms Additional Powers and Passenger Rights

In response to a recent consultation concerning passenger rights and aviation powers, the Government has confirmed some proposals to improve the quality of service in the aviation sector.  

These new proposals were published yesterday, Tuesday the 27th of June 2023, with the goal of increasing the overall protection that passenger rights provide. The original consultation on Aviation Consumer Policy Reform was published in January 2022 by the Department for Transport (DfT) with the goal of giving the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) more powers to enforce passenger rights. 

According to the recently published proposal, the CAA will receive stronger enforcement powers allowing them more control, including the ability to fine airlines that have breached the rules. This came with a cheaper disposal resolution system for passengers and some improvements on the passenger rights of disabled travellers.  

Following the implementation of this proposal, airlines flying nationally and internationally will be required to join an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body to ensure that passengers have a way to escalate their complaints if they cannot be settled without the need for court intervention.  

Several changes were proposed to improve the rights of disabled passengers, including ‘full and fair compensation’ for any damage caused to wheelchairs and equipment on any domestic UK flight. Airlines will also be ‘encouraged’ to apply the same policy to their international flights.  

There will also be new training courses offered to ground handlers to ensure that mobility equipment is handled properly, in the hopes of preventing these incidents in the first place.  

Paul Smith, the Joint-Interim Chief Executive at the CAA, said, “We welcome the announcement from the Government today to enhance the rights of air passengers, alongside strengthening the enforcement powers of the CAA and making ADR mandatory. We have long called for a stronger enforcement toolkit to bring us in line with other regulators.” 

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