Which? responds to Supreme Court ruling on airline compensation rules

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

"This decision by the Supreme Court is highly significant for travellers, confirming as we head into the busy summer period that staff illness is not an acceptable reason to deny paying compensation for significant delays or cancellations.

"Due to a lack of clarity in the rules, airlines have too often been able to pass off events travellers might consider 'business as usual' as extraordinary circumstances, and in so doing avoid paying compensation to passengers under EC261.

"However, even when consumers' entitlement to compensation is clear, we too often hear of passengers struggling to get the money they are owed. It is therefore imperative the government prioritises giving the Civil Aviation Authority stronger powers, including direct fining powers, so it can properly hold airlines to account when they fail to comply with consumer protection laws.”

-ENDS-