Law that protects the passenger

Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Institute (IACM) has started discussions of a new regulation that will ensure better protection of passenger rights from airlines operating in the country. According to state-controlled Radio Mozambique on Sunday, the IACM last week convened a meeting with representatives of airline companies operating in the country and civil society organizations to discuss the draft regulation which will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of the year.

IACM chief executive Joao de Abreu said the new regulation provides for compensation for passengers who are denied the right to board a flight for which they are booked.It also contains provisions for non-compliance by airlines with the right to reimburse or re-route passengers and to provide due logistical assistance.Other issues to be addressed by the proposed regulation include cancellations or delays of the flights as well as damage, loss and delay of arrival of baggage.

According to de Abreu, the regulations would apply to both passengers departing from an airport located in the country or those departing from airports elsewhere to an airport located in Mozambique if the airline is registered in the country.The official noted that the new regulation would bring added value to both airlines and passengers in the fulfilment of their rights and obligations, which is not the case at present.“The regulation is already in the final stages and we thought it would be wise to listen the airline companies before we submit it to the parliament, because it establishes how passengers should be treated,” said de Abreu.He said there is currently no legal framework for handling disputes between airlines and aggrieved passengers.