Belgium's Minister for Consumer Affairs, Rob Beenders (Vooruit), is calling on airlines to better inform passengers about their rights when faced with strikes or delays.
Passengers are often entitled to a refund or compensation, but Beenders believes they are not properly informed. A letter will be sent to airlines this week to address the issue.
The call comes at the same time as a national strike on Thursday. Due to the strike, no flights are landing in or taking off from Belgium throughout the day. They have been cancelled, postponed, or diverted to airports outside of Belgium.
When a flight is cancelled due to external factors such as bad weather or a strike at another company, passengers have the right to choose between an alternative flight or a refund. If the delay or cancellation is the airline's fault, passengers are also entitled to financial compensation depending on the length of the delay.
However, according to Beenders, many consumers are unaware of their rights. The complaints process is also very complex, and some airlines do not adequately inform passengers. "We urge airlines to communicate more clearly and transparently when flights are cancelled or delayed," Beenders said.
The minister is also advocating automatic compensation, similar to what exists in the United States. He plans to raise the issue with his European colleagues. "It's simple logic. People are entitled to it. Why should they have to follow complex procedures?"
