Travellers whose holidays or business trips are ruined by overbooking, late flights and cancellations will, for the first time, be guaranteed compensation under new European rules.

The new rules cover all European airlines including budget operators such as Ryanair and Easyjet.

Richard Corbett MEP, Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Sometimes cancellations are more than simply inconvenient. How can you compensate someone for the heartache caused by missing perhaps a funeral or a family wedding?"

"These new rules will ensure that airlines take responsibility for the inconvenience and distress suffered by passengers due to cancellation and delays."

The EU crackdown on airline overbooking and delays means that frustrated and inconvenienced passengers will be entitled to immediate compensation or alternative travel arrangements.

Passengers who are "bumped off" flights because the airline has deliberately overbooked will be entitled to immediate compensation of between £175 and £420 depending on the length of their flight. The rules come into force today.

Richard said: "For far too long, overbooking and cancellation for commercial reasons has become part of the normal business routine for airlines."

"Some airlines have dodged their responsibilities for years. The message to them is: basic consumer rights apply whatever the price of a ticket."

"After years of letting airlines make the rules, passengers now have a legal right to the standard of customer service they deserve.

"Airlines will be named and shamed based on their performance. Airlines will compete on service quality and standards will rise across the board.

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Passengers who are denied boarding or "bumped off"
flights will be entitled to:

• €250 (about £175) for journeys of less than 1,500 km

• €400 (about £280) for journeys between 1,500 km and 3,500 km

• €600 (about £420) for journeys more than 3,500 km

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk