European airlines seize on jet fuel crisis to lobby against passenger perks
Baku, April 28, AZERTAC
Proposals such as extra free baggage allowance would make it harder to cope with rising costs, industry says.
According to Financial Times, European airlines are using the fuel price crisis to press the UK and Brussels to roll back a host of regulations they oppose, including plans to allow passengers two free cabin bags on every flight.
Lobby groups are pushing politicians to drop a number of measures that the industry has been fighting for years, including the incoming baggage allowance rules, environmental payments and changes to passenger compensation schemes.
They have argued that such requirements already put EU and UK carriers at a disadvantage and should be withdrawn to help them contend with the doubling of jet fuel prices in recent weeks.
EasyJet has already said it will make a bigger than expected loss in the spring months, while Germany’s Lufthansa has cancelled 20,000 flights, saying higher fuel costs would have made them unprofitable. Virgin Atlantic also told the FT recently that it would struggle to turn a profit this year.
Among the most eye-catching changes, the European parliament is considering whether passengers should be allowed to bring a second larger piece of hand luggage on board for free, in addition to a smaller item.
While some airlines, such as BA, already allow this, low-cost carriers argue this would force them to increase ticket prices and create problems for their business model, which relies on a quick turnaround when the aircraft lands.
The industry would also like changes to “tankering” rules, which prevent airlines filling up with cheaper fuel before they enter the region.
Airlines are also lobbying for changes that would reduce the cost of passenger compensation for cancelled flights, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.
Changes to rules on airport slots, which require airlines to use or risk losing them even if there is limited demand, are also on the industry’s list of requests.
The UK government has already said it will allow airlines to apply for an exemption to the “use it or lose it” rule “if fuel shortages prevent them from flying”.
In Brussels, policymakers are reluctant to rewrite legislation regulating the industry, but countries such as Portugal have raised concerns about the effect of high jet fuel prices on tourism.
So far, European officials have said they are willing to give some ground to the industry, which supports more than 5 million jobs across the region, but only temporarily.
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