20
Jan
2026
Watch
Air passenger rights (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, Cynthia here from Ireland and looking forward to working with you on this important file. Now, people buy flights and book them when they trust the conditions, rules, and will not be abandoned when they are in trouble. And that is why strong passenger rights are needed. When flights are delayed, cancelled and overbooked, or when a flight connection is missed. But the rules must also work for the aviation industry, as this is a system and an industry that operates on very low surpluses. Now, strong passenger rights and a healthy and competitive European aviation market are not contradictory. And remember that the aviation industry in Europe is much better than America, much better than China, which is why we need to find that balance and make sure that our aviation industry is competitive in Europe and that our passengers are protected.