Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 7 November 2009, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on passenger compensation in the event of airline bankruptcy.

The resolution had been tabled by the EPP, S&D, Greens/ALE and ALDE groups.

Parliament notes that there have been 77 bankruptcies in the aviation sector in the last nine years, resulting in some instances in many thousands of passengers being stranded at their destinations and unable to use the return portion of their flight ticket. It also notes the findings of the Commission’s study of the difficulties surrounding airline bankruptcy and its impact on passengers, which were forwarded to Parliament in February 2009. Parliament recalls that there are a number of options which the Commission could pursue to strengthen the position of passengers of bankrupt airlines, including compulsory insurance for airlines, a voluntary insurance arrangement for passengers which airlines would be required to propose, and the establishment of a guarantee fund.

Members call on the Commission to:

examine the possibility of a legislative proposal which has as its specific objective the provision of compensation for passengers of airlines which go bankrupt and which establishes financial and administrative arrangements, including the principle of collective responsibility, whereby all airlines flying the same route with available seats would ensure repatriation for passengers who are stranded at non-home airports in the event of airline bankruptcy. If it considers it appropriate, the Commission is asked to submit such a legislative proposal by 1 July 2010; propose, when reviewing Directive 90/314/EEC (the Travel Package Directive), an extension for repatriation or re-routing for the passengers concerned; consider the possibility of extending such measures to airlines which have ceased operations and caused passengers similar inconvenience to that caused by airlines which go into bankruptcy; investigate the quick release of impounded aircraft by national regulatory bodies so that those aircraft can be used to bring stranded people home.

O-0089/2009