Consumer NZ research released today found that 40% of air travellers suffered a delay or cancellation during the last two years but nine out of 10 don’t fully know their rights.
The advocacy group has delivered a 10,500-signature petition to Parliament today calling on the government to require airlines to tell passengers their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled.
The petition asks associate minister of transport, James Meager, to use existing powers in the Civil Aviation Act to compel airlines to clearly inform passengers of their rights when a flight is disrupted.
Despite amendments made to the law last year, giving the minister the power to require airlines to inform passengers about their rights, no action has been taken.
Meager last year ordered the Ministry of Transport to study regulatory regimes overseas and report back early this year.
. . . In The Dark
Consumer NZ ceo Jon Duffy says Kiwis are sick of being left in the dark. “When a cancellation or delay is the airline’s fault, passengers have rights. The problem is that, unlike other jurisdictions, airlines don’t have to tell them.’’
Disrupted passengers are being left out of pocket because they’re not being given the information they need from their airline. Sometimes they are even actively misled, says Duffy.
In other countries, including those within the European Union, airlines must proactively tell passengers their rights.