Coalition calls for bill that will see airlines reimburse delayed passengers

Coalition calls for bill that will see airlines reimburse delayed passengers
Edited by Travel Weekly


    The Liberal-National Coalition has called for the introduction of a bill dubbed ‘pay on delay’ which would see carriers compensate customers who are impacted by flight delays.

    Liberal senator Dean Smith and Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie announced last week their intentions to move on “a bill for an Act to require the transport minister to make rules when prescribing carriers’ obligations, and for related purposes,” later this month when parliament returns.

    “Australians deserve an aviation industry where planes take off and arrive on time, and their bags arrive with them,” a statement from the two senators read.

    “The Pay on Delay Bill is designed to clean up Australia’s airline industry through ensuring concrete protections for passengers to, from and within Australia and its territories in the event of flight delays, cancellations, or denials of boarding.

    “The Bill will clarify a passenger’s ticket is on a particular flight, to a particular destination, at a particular time.

    “The Albanese government has failed to ensure travelling Australians are not taken advantage of by our airlines and instead have spent the past 18 months running a protection racket for Qantas who represent more than 60 per cent of the Australian airline industry.”

    In the European Union, a similar scheme is already in place that sees passengers who are delayed by over three hours are entitled to between $485 and $1,165 depending on the length of the trip.

    2023 saw widespread criticism of the Australian aviation sector, particularly around claims of slot hoarding or the inability to secure slots in the case of smaller airlines (such as Bonza).

    Monique Ryan, an independent MP for Kooyong in Melbourne called for a scheme similar to that in the EU which she believes can also address the issue of slots in Australian airports.

    “Airlines like Qantas are acting less like national treasures and more like the mafia of the sky,” Ryan told The Guardian in November.

    “Not only would this protect consumer rights, it would reduce cancellations and delays. Airlines won’t be so interested in cancelling or delaying flights if they have to pay up to $100,000 in compensation per flight.”

    Latest News

    • Aviation

    Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

    It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

    • Attractions

    SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

    AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

    • Cruise

    Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

    Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

    • Technology
    • Travel Agents

    Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

    Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]