Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The updating of the European legislation on refunding and assisting passengers in cases of missed connecting flights and long delays is a positive step which will provide passengers with greater protection of their rights. This was stated by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Danail Papazov today during a meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Transport, Telecommunication and Energy of the EU in Luxembourg.

Solving the problem of refunds and assistance of passengers in cases of a missed connecting flight will stimulate the air carriers and the tour operators to find the best possible travel combinations for their customers, added Minister Danail Papazov. According to the Minister, currently there are good practices when dealing with such situations, but with the adoption of the measures they should become a common rule in the European Union.

Minister Danail Papazov also supported the need of amendments in the currently applied regulation on refunds for long delays. In his words achieving a perfect and fair balance between the travel distance, the length of the delay and the amount of the refund is difficult to achieve goal.

Passenger rights are determining, but at the same time the burden for the carriers should also be endurable and within reasonable limits and therefore the Bulgarian side supports the changes related to the length of the delay, added Minister Danail Papazov. He also said that if there is a long delay at the start of the flight (up to the fifth hour) it is logical for the passengers to be taken care for within the amount set depending on the length of the delay; this should not be linked to the flight distance, as it is in the current regulation. "We consider it is reasonable that the amount of the refund for the passengers in cases of a canceled flight to be bound to the price of the ticket", said Minister Danail Papazov 

Adopting the Decision of the EU should achieve the general goal of the proposal - a better implementation of the European norms in the field of air  passenger rights protection. The amendments entering into force are expected to bring about greater clarity regarding the responsibility of the carrier, more understandable and applicable rules for submitting complaints and their resolution, stronger and more effective control over the implementation of the regulations. All participants in the process of transportation of air passengers are expected to get greater legal security.