Court opens way for flight delay compensation
05 March 2010
Dutch air passengers whose flights are delayed for more than three hours may be able to claim up to €600 each in compensation, according to various media reports on Friday.
On Thursday, a court in Haarlem ruled that charter airline Martinair must pay compensation to a passenger whose flight in 2007 was subject to delays of over 24 hours.
Martinair had refused to pay compensation, arguing the flight was delayed, not cancelled because of technical problems.
European court
The Haarlem court had waited for the results of a European court of justice ruling before giving its verdict.
Last year, the European court said airlines should compensate people whose flights are delayed for more than three hours.
A spokesman for legal aid office DAS said the Haarlem ruling could open the way for hundreds of similar claims.
According to the Telegraaf, airlines fear the ruling could cost them between €3bn and €5bn a year.
In February, transport minister Camiel Eurlings gave transport ministry officials four weeks to draw up suggestions for compensating passengers as a result of the European ruling.
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