Airport passenger complaints up 7%
11th August 2010
Complaints from air travellers more than doubled during the second quarter of the year, compared with the same period in 2009, official figures have shown.
A total of 7,519 complaints were registered during April to June, the same time as the volcano eruption in Iceland, which created huge clouds of ash in the skies above Europe. In the second quarter of 2009 complaints totalled 3,086.
The Air Transport Users Council, which issued the data, also said the total number of both airport complaints and inquiries in the year between April 2009 and March 2010 increased by 7% to 14,503, compared with the preceding period. This suggests claims on travel insurance policies may have also increased over the year.
Actual complaints totalled 6,296 for 2009-10, up from the 5,953 total for 2008-09, but this figure does not include data from the ash cloud delays.
Passengers' primary grievance during the most recent year was flights being cancelled, making up 2,200 of the total. Delays and mishandled baggage were next on the list, with totals of 1,008 and 532 respectively.
In the introduction of the council's report for this year, chairman Tina Tietjen noted: "Not all passengers are receiving their rights under the law."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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