Evidence provided by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) was instrumental in decision by the UK High Court…
Evidence provided by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) was instrumental in decision by the UK High Court to request an expeditious hearing by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the case against the new EU regulation on passenger compensation and assistance.
Filed at the request of the ERA Board, ERA’s evidence focused mainly on the consequences of the compensation and assistance to be provided by airlines in the event of cancellations. The positive judgement of the Court in its hearing on 14 July refers specifically to ERA’s evidence in assisting the Court in its decision to ask for priority treatment by the ECJ.
The President of the ECJ will now consider when the case should be heard, but there is no certainty that the ECJ will treat the case as priority. If the ECJ accepts the need for urgency, there may be a ruling before the Regulation becomes effective in February 2005. Missing this date means that, even if the Regulation is later overturned, airlines will be unable to recoup the massive costs it will impose in the interim.
The potential effects of the new regulation are so damaging that ERA is considering holding a workshop for airlines and airports on the likely impacts it will have on their businesses.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
