ERA TAKES EC TO EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

06/04/2005

The European Regions Airline Association has today (Wednesday, 6 April) lodged a complaint of European Commission (EC) maladministration with the European Ombudsman in an effort to stop the EC issuing misleading information to airline passengers and the media.

Posters, leaflet, fact sheets, videos, media information and a web site produced by the Commission contain statements about Regulation 261 (Compensation and Assistance for Air Passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or long delay) that are wrong. Much media coverage of the regulation was based on these materials.

Since the Commission has refused to withdraw or correct the information or even discuss the topic, ERA has lodged its maladministration complaint with the Ombudsman, citing Articles 11, 12 and 17 of the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour. The Association wants the EC to withdraw the material and apologise to airlines.

A statement from ERA President Antonis Simigdalas and ERA Director General Mike Ambrose said: “The whole of the ERA Board regrets the necessity of this step but the Commission’s refusal to accept industry expert opinion and its determination to encourage passenger expectations beyond the legal requirement leaves us with no alternative.”