On October 10, AIRE was represented by Policy Advisor Elena Jaraíz at the tri-national meeting (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) focused on Regulations (EC) 261/2004 and 1107/2006. This informative session, organized by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) in Bern, convened stakeholders from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to discuss the current landscape of air passenger rights.

The event commenced with an overview of the current status of air passenger rights across Switzerland, presented by Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Germany (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt), and Austria (Agency for Passenger Rights – APF). A key focus of the discussions was on the trends in complaints and their underlying reasons related to air passenger rights. This data is crucial for identifying the challenges passengers face and informing potential improvements in the regulatory framework.

The meeting featured a presentation by Günther Ettl from DG MOVE at the European Commission, who addressed the latest developments in passenger rights. His discussion encompassed significant proposed amendments to Regulation 261/2004, along with updates on multimodal travel and the Package Travel Directive.

From the airline industry perspective, James Wiltshire of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) offered insights into how these regulations affect both airlines and passengers.

The meeting fostered great discussions and provided valuable insights into enhancing the development of air passengers’ rights. We look forward to continuing collaboration among stakeholders to ensure better protections for all air travelers.