Rights of passengers: practical analysis of the decisions of Spanish Courts of Justice ANTONIA PANIZA FULLANA Doctor of Law Civil Law Professor at University of Balearic Islands

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands INTRODUCTION  Different problems which have been resolved by Spanish Courts of Justice.  Travel agency and its liability  Passenger protection as a consumer: Duty to inform Unfair terms

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Introduction PASSENGER TRAVEL AGENCY TRAVEL PACKAGE AIR CARRIER

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands The problem and its solution Obligations of the different contracting parties Different situations Different liability

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Regulation  Package Travel Regulation (1995, July 6th)  Consumer Protection Act (1984, July 19th)  Regulation nº 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 february 2004  Article 1101 Civil Code

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Air travel as a part of a package holiday  Art. 3.6 Regulation (EC) Nº 261/2004: “This Regulation shall not affect the rights of passengers under Directive 90/314/EEC. This Regulation shall not apply in cases where a package tour is cancelled for reasons other than cancellation of the flight”

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Duty to inform  In general: passengers should be fully informed of their rights  Information about visa:  SAP of Navarra 2004, november 8th: Only flight/not package travel Travel agency liability: no information about a conecting flight in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The passenger has not visa. But, NOT compensation: no proof the damages

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Duty to inform and travel agency - SAP of Barcelona 2004, november 25th: Duty to inform was not complete: Passengers need visa to go to Kiev Material damages: the price of the ticket, but No moral damages: no proof

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Duty to inform and travel agency  SAP of Baleares 2006, february 10th: package travel Flight Madrid-Marrakech Travel agency has not inform that visa was required Liability: Retailer and consumer (50% comparative negligence) Moral damages: not 2000 euros/900euros

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands SAP of Barcelona 2004, september 28th - Airlines computer problem - Package travel - Airline is responsible of this problem - Liability: article 11 Package Travel Act - Compensation: the price of the tickets to come back to Barcelona (266,47 euros)

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Unfair terms  SAP of Madrid 2005, september 15th: unfair term in the ticket flight: long delays - Unfair terms: “A contractual term which has not been individually negotiated shall be regarded as unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations arising under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer”. (Art. 3 Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts). - Art.10 bis Consumer Protection Act

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Delay of flights  S. J. Mercantil (Bilbao) 2007, march 26th Flight Barcelona-Buenos Aires/but flight conection to Madrid (no information) + delay Liability: Airline: Art Civil Code and arts. 25, 26, 27 and 28 of the Consumer Protection Act. Moral damages: 300 euros  SAP of Valencia 2006, february 22nd: Flight delayed Package travel Problem: liability retailer/organiser Compensation: 98,50 euros (damages caused by the delay of the flight)

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Delay of flights  S.J. Mercantil Bizkaia 2005, december 7th  SAP of Cantabria 2005, june 27th Loss of the flight connection No information about the change of the boarding gate. Airline Liability: Article 1101 Civil Code Material and moral damages

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Damage or loss of baggage  SAP of Valencia 2006, february 27th Loss of baggage (2 and 4 days) Liability: Airline Material damages Moral damages  SAP of Tarragona 2006, november 2nd.

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands Tourism and damages  STS 2005, October 11th: terrorism attack to Spanish tourist in Egypt: Package travel Liability: Organiser and retailer/ but the situation in this country must be known by the tourist No inevitable accident: art Civil Code

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands CONCLUSIONS  DUTY TO INFORM Package Holiday Act: Art. 3 (previous information), 4 (contractual information), 6 (post contractual information). Consumer Protection Act: Art. 13 (general information). Regulation (EC) Nº 261/2004: Art. 14

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands CONCLUSIONS  UNFAIR TERMS: General Terms Act and Consumer Protection Act.  LIABILITY: Art. 25, 26, 27, 28 Consumer Protection Act Art. 11 Package Travel Law: organiser or retailer Art Civil Code

IFTTA 2007 University of Balearic Islands CONCLUSIONS  Quantity of compensations: Proof of the damage Material damages Moral damages

Rights of passengers: practical analysis of the decisions of Spanish Courts of Justice ANTONIA PANIZA FULLANA Doctor of Law Civil Law Professor at University of Balearic Islands