MINIMALNI NIVO ZAŠTITE PUTNIKA U VAZDUŠNOM SAOBRAĆAJU - REŠENjA EVROPSKE REGULATIVE I DOMAĆEG ZAKONODAVSTVA

Abstract

This paper analyses the legal mechanisms which guarantee minimum rights to air passengers in case they are denied boarding against their will, their flight is cancelled or delayed. In case of breach of contracts of carriage by air, passenger rights are protected by law as special rights (minimum rights) and comprise the right to information, reimbursement, re-routing, care and indemnification. This study examines the existing regulation from the Law on obligations and the basics of property relations in air transport, which reflects the stipulations of the Montreal Convention (1999) and the Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 259/91. The Regulation defines minimum passenger rights protection and is part of our positive air transportation legislation. Although this is a significant step towards unifying the legal regulation and creating a common mechanism for protecting air passenger rights, we suggest that it also poses a serious challenge for air carriers: how will they meet all the demands of the modern air transportation market, and fully inform the passengers on their special rights and ways to exercise these in certain situations.