Consumer body Which? has welcomed indications from the new transport secretary that the aviation regulator will have greater ability to act against airlines that flout compensation rules.
Which? later revealed that it wrote to the transport secretary recently calling for tougher enforcement from the CAA to hold airlines to account proactively.
It argued that the regulator needs direct powers to monitor and fine airlines when they flout the rules.
Passengers’ rights need also protecting to redress when airlines are at fault for delays and cancellations and past government proposals to slash payouts for domestic flights must be dropped.
Which? also called for a dispute resolution system that is mandatory for all airlines flying to and from the UK so travellers do not have to go to the small claims court to enforce their rights.
The group’s policy and advocacy director Rocio Concha said: “Which? has been campaigning for stronger powers for the aviation regulator, including the ability to directly fine airlines – so it’s good news for passengers that the Department for Transport is planning legislation to give the Civil Aviation Authority powers to crack down on operators that flout the law.
“It was positive to hear the transport secretary indicate that proposed cuts to domestic flight compensation may no longer go ahead, and acknowledge the consumer champion’s view that when properly enforced, compensation rules act as a vital deterrent against airlines treating passengers badly and employing practices like overbooking flights or cancelling them at the last minute.”
Which? put forward 12 travel reform proposals in June – when newly appointed home secretary Grant Shapps was transport secretary – on how to create a system that it claimed would “effectively protect consumers and support the recovery” of the aviation and holiday sectors following the pandemic.