New Thai law: Passengers demand high compensation for delays!

New Thai law: Passengers demand high compensation for delays!

Since May 20, 2023, new Civil Aviation Authority regulations have been in force in Thailand to increase the protection of passengers in the event of delays and cancellations. These regulations particularly affect international flights and require airlines to provide appropriate compensation and support for affected passengers. Loud Vietnam.vn Airlines must offer free food, drinks and communication services for delays of more than two hours.

In the case of longer delays, compensation depends on the waiting time: for more than five hours, passengers are entitled to 1,500 baht (approximately VND 1.2 million), while for more than ten hours the compensation varies between 2,000 and 4,500 baht (1.6 to 3.6 million VND), depending on the flight distance. This means a significant increase in compensation payments compared to previous regulations. For cancellations announced less than seven days before departure, the rule for delays of more than ten hours also applies.

Airline obligations

However, airlines are exempt from paying these compensations if they are able to offer an alternative flight within three hours or in the event of force majeure. For domestic flights, compensation was also increased to 1,500 baht, improving overall passenger protection.

In addition, passengers must have access to ventilated cabins, a comfortable temperature, toilets and emergency medical care during extended delays. In the EU, the regulations are established by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which has been in force since 2005. These regulations set similarly high standards that also apply to flights from third countries. Eur-lex.eu emphasizes that the regulation represents an essential measure to protect passengers and regulates compensation and assistance in the event of denied boarding, cancellations or long delays.

European regulations in comparison

In the EU, compensation is EUR 250 for flights up to 1,500 km, EUR 400 for intra-community flights over 1,500 km and up to EUR 600 for all longer flights. These compensations are intended to ensure that passengers are treated fairly, regardless of the airline or flight type. Airlines are obliged to inform their passengers of their rights and must offer alternatives in the event of cancellations.

Despite these regulations, many passengers in Vietnam are often uninformed about their rights in the event of delays or cancellations. Compensation is relatively low in Vietnam compared to other Asian countries; they range from 200,000 to 400,000 VND for domestic flights and between 25 and 150 USD for international flights. The process to request a refund may take up to 14 days.

In summary, the new Thai regulations represent steps in the right direction, but at the same time highlight the need to further promote passengers' awareness and understanding of their rights.