Latest news with #JensGieseke
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New rules for major airlines on small bags approved by MEPs
A new law proposed by the European Parliament's transport committee would change what passengers can carry without incurring any additional charges Passengers flying on EU airlines could soon be allowed to carry handbags weighing up to 7kg without facing additional charges, if a proposed law is approved. On Tuesday (June 24), the European Parliament's transport committee gave the go-ahead to an amendment that would eliminate fees for small carry-on bags. Several airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, currently impose charges for larger cabin bags (those intended for the overhead locker) within their standard fares. These airlines only include a small under-seat bag in the basic ticket price. However, other airlines such as British Airways and Jet2 include a larger cabin bag within their standard fares. Officials propose that passengers should be allowed one free cabin bag weighing up to 7kg and not exceeding 100cm, along with another smaller personal item that can fit under the seat. Move could affect all EU flights This potential policy would apply to all flights to and from the EU, which includes routes between the EU and the UK, reports Bristol Live. A significant majority of MEPs voted in favour of amending EU passenger rights laws, adopting a stance on a new passenger rights bill with 38 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions. The finer points of the proposed EU regulations are currently under discussion among member states, with Spain signalling its support for the revisions, reports Cornwall Live. Transport Committee member Jens Gieseke said: "Our proposals are intended to strengthen passenger confidence and encourage companies to develop more attractive multimodal offers. They set out clear, reasonable obligations for carriers – and at the same time ensure passengers are not abandoned." However, there are concerns within the aviation sector that these new regulations might bump up the prices of flight tickets for all travellers, irrespective of their luggage amount. One industry head revealed confusion. Ourania Georgoutsakou, the managing director of travel lobby group Airlines for Europe, said: "What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't." Airlines for Europe raises doubts over MEP plans Adding to the concerns, Airlines for Europe suggested that the execution of this rule could be problematic due to operational stumbling blocks. They told the EU transport committee that an average plane with seats for 180 passengers can handle about 90 cabin bags in its overhead compartments. Nonetheless, the committee says airlines must not levy extra fees for certain seating choices, especially when it comes to children under the age of 12. The committee champions a standard procedure for managing compensation and reimbursement claims. European consumer rights organisation BEUC has commended the European Parliament's latest move. Steven Berger, the leading legal officer at BEUC, said: "This is a basic consumer expectation, and it fully aligns with the Court of Justice's ruling that reasonable-sized hand luggage cannot be subject to additional fees." In May, BEUC launched a complaint urging the European Commission and national consumer protection agencies to look into the cabin baggage charges imposed by carriers including easyJet, Norwegian Airlines, Ryanair, Volotea, Vueling, Transavia, and Wizz Air, arguing the pricing practices were illegitimate. The transport committee is now poised to skip preliminary discussions stage and proceed to negotiations with EU member states.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU ministers back plan to cut flight delay compensation
EU transport ministers on Thursday voted to raise the threshold for airline compensation, meaning passengers could soon only be entitled to payouts after flight delays of four hours, instead of the current three. A majority of the ministers voted in favour of the change in Luxembourg, according to information from diplomatic circles obtained by dpa. The European Parliament can still make changes to the new rules. The four-hour rule is set to apply to distances of up to 3,500 kilometres. For longer flights, a six-hour limit is planned. Consumer advocates have warned that the change would result in significantly fewer passengers receiving compensation. According to the European Union's current Air Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation for delays of three hours or more, provided that the airline is at fault. The amount of compensation depends on the distance: €250 ($286) for flights up to 1,500 kilometres, €400 for flights up to 3,500 kilometres and €600 for long-haul flights exceeding 3,500 kilometres. The airlines argue that they are unable to provide a replacement aircraft and crew within three hours in many European locations, and that this can lead to additional flights being cancelled because the high compensation payments have already been incurred. Members of the European Parliament, who must still approve the new regulation, have expressed resistance to a change. Jan-Christoph Oetjen, of Germany's pro-business Free Democrats, said before the vote that he sees no reason to change the parliament's existing position. He expects it to maintain the three-hour requirement. Jens Gieseke, another German member of parliament, agreed: "As a parliament, we will not accept any deterioration of the status quo."
Reuters
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
EU lawmaker group to challenge combustion engine ban this year
BRUSSELS, March 12 (Reuters) - The European Parliament's biggest lawmaker group said on Wednesday it will attempt to overturn the European Union's main climate policy for cars - a 2035 ban on sales of new CO2-emitting vehicles - during a review of the plan this year. The ban's supporters say it is crucial to Europe's green ambitions and guiding the automotive sector's low-carbon transformation. But critics say it will handicap European carmakers already struggling with weak demand, Chinese competition and disappointing electric vehicle sales. Jens Gieseke, the centre-right European People's Party's (EPP) negotiator on car policies, told Reuters the group would use a planned review of the policy in the third or fourth quarter to seek amendments. It will propose changes such as allowing sales of combustion engine cars running on synthetic fuels and biofuels as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles beyond 2035. "It was a mistake to ban the combustion engine," said Gieseke, a German EU lawmaker. "If fuels lead to a less carbon-intensive footprint, this should be recognised." The European Commission - whose president, Ursula von der Leyen, belongs to the EPP - has so far resisted pressure to weaken the 2035 policy, which it says provides investment certainty. However, the Commission last week brought forward a 2026 review of the policy to this year, and yielded to pressure from automakers by giving them three years, rather than one, to comply with 2025 emission limits. Gieseke said if other EU lawmakers agreed, the 2035 target could be brought into negotiations on the 2025 limits as early as next month. A majority of the European Parliament and a reinforced majority of EU countries must approve any changes to the car policies. Italy and the Czech Republic, plus the party of Germany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz, have vowed to revise the 2035 target. But a senior EU diplomat said that, for now, most countries did not support amending the goal. The EPP holds 188 of the 720 seats in the European Parliament but would need other lawmaker groups' support for any changes. Right-wing EU lawmakers favour changing the 2035 policy. But the Socialists and Greens oppose weakening emissions goals, and argue the focus should be supporting carmakers to transition to electric vehicles and catch up with Chinese competitors. Socialist EU lawmaker Mohammed Chahim warned during a European Parliament debate on Wednesday that "nostalgia" for traditional vehicles risked stifling innovation. "I feel like I'm in the boardroom of Nokia when the iPhone was just released," he said.
