News

Complaints about airlines have nearly trebled in the last year.

Figures released by the official passenger watchdog Air Transport Users Council (AUC) reveal 6,000 written complaints were received in 2005/06.

The number of telephone complaints rose from 3,514 in 2004/05 to 3,755 in 2005/06.

The biggest source of complaints making up two-thirds of grievances was down to cancellations and delays, followed by mislaid baggage.

Part of the reason for increased complaints has been new rights given to air passengers across the EU which came into force in February last year.

AUC chairman Tina Tietjen, said: 'We know from discussions with airlines that for the most part they have worked hard to ensure that passengers receive their entitlements under the new regulation.

'However the main message coming out of our complaints work appears to be that company policy is still not consistently applied at ground level. There remain too many occasions when suffering delays and cancellations are often not getting their full entitlements.'

Under the regulation, air passengers facing cancellation and long delays became eligible for compensation.


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