Informal guidelines are now available for the application of Regulation 261/2004 (denied boarding, cancellation and delay of flights) regarding the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. The guidelines have been formulated by the European Commission and the national enforcement bodies (NEBs).
The guiding principle is that airlines are not sanctioned if they can prove that, taking into consideration the special circumstances at hand, they have sincerely tried to fulfill the Regulation's obligations. At the same time the informal guidelines stress that NEBs shall apply sanctions if airlines have taken advantage of the volcano crisis.
Click here to download the document "Non paper - proposed informal guidelines on the application of some articles of (EC) Regulation 261/2004" (source of the document: Dutch parliamentary discussions; click here for the Government's letter to Parliament).
[photo by AP]