More Charges on Airline Passengers is ‘Plane’ Stupid

East Midlands’ Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin has questioned the decision of the European Parliament to set up a ‘guarantee’ fund for passengers who find themselves out of pocket following an airline bankruptcy.

The risk attached to this EU fund for the victims of airline bankruptcy is that any costs will simply be transferred to passengers who already pay a host of taxes and additional charges.

Miss McClarkin is also angered that the plan for this fund, contained within a European Parliament resolution tabled on 25th November, has been put forward without a proper impact assessment on the Industry.

The European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament has proposed a different resolution which Emma McClarkin believes is a much more sensible route and will ensure that airline passengers in the East Midlands will be most protected.

Emma McClarkin said:

“The respective National Aviation Regulatory Authorities are better equipped to monitor the performance and financial status of airlines and should be fulfilling their obligations to red flag those at risk.

“Also, there should be an obligation for airlines to inform passengers when they purchase flight tickets, about available insurance options and other protective mechanisms. The passenger needs to be protected but not at an inflated cost to them through extra costs and duties.

“These are just some of the elements of the ECR resolution which I believe will better protect East Midlands’ airline travellers.

“The resolution that the European Conservatives have proposed offers the best way of proceeding.

“Additional charges should always be a last resort. The establishment of a ‘guarantee’ fund will inevitably have to be funded by the consumer, meaning that passengers would be required to pay even more for tickets. Given the rarity of airline bankruptcies, even in the midst of a recession, this approach is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. At the very least a proper impact assessment should have been a pre-requisite before even discussing a ‘guarantee’ fund.”