EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT members voted last week for the go ahead to an EU-wide blacklist of airlines that do not meet safety requirements. Airlines on the list will be subject to an operating ban throughout the Union. Passenger rights are also to be strengthened by ensuring they are told the identity of their operating carrier, although this move will have no practical effect as airlines will only be able to call in non-blacklisted carriers when they have a requirement to supplement an operation. The rules on drawing up a blacklist will come into effect 20 days after the directive is published in the EU's Official Journal (probably early 2006); and the passenger rights provisions will enter into force six months after publication. Passengers will have the right to re-imbursement or re-routing if the supplementary air carrier is put on the blacklist after the reservation has been made and the flight is cancelled.
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