We made a submission to the Senate Committee Inquiry into the Airline Passenger Protections (Pay on Delay) Bill 2024 which, if passed, would establish a scheme to provide additional consumer rights for passengers on flights to and from, and within, Australia. The scheme would include rules for airlines to follow about matters including provision of refunds and compensation to passengers whose flights are delayed, and an aviation industry code of conduct.
Our submission noted serious barriers people with disability face when travelling by air, and the particular importance of consumer protections for people with disability. We recommended the Bill provide the rules and code of conduct be developed in consultation with people with disability (and that disability representative organisations be funded to engage in this consultation); and that careful thought be given to ensuring these measures are interoperable with the vital disability access initiatives announced in the Government’s recently-released Aviation White Paper.
