On the Legal Regulation of delayed flights
Abstract China's current flight delays are common occurrences. As the current legal
definition of the flight delays is not clear, the burden of proof is difficult,
airlines and passenger information asymmetry between, leading to difficult to
protect the legitimate interests of passengers. I intended when interpreting
contract law and the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Act, based on
the one hand, should be clearly recommended airline's responsibility, on the
other hand should be defined according to the amount of compensation and the
way to balance the interests of both sides to build offensive and defensive
legal mechanism.
Paper Keywords flight
delays sources of law liable to pay compensation limit
I. Introduction
In recent years, with
the rapid development of China's aviation industry, flight delays become one of
the hot issues. Carrier and the passenger disputes occur frequently, causing
airlines reputation and efficiency losses.
Civil aviation, flight delays for the explanation often only two words, such as
weather, air traffic control, mechanical failure, aircraft deployment. Excuse
simply refined, but also reflects the complex background, the objective
existence of aviation poor transmission of information, delays are not clear.
Civil aviation has also long been considered not be necessary to explain to
visitors, but after a delay services to visitors lack nuanced. Passenger side,
for most travelers choose air travel, is a convenient and comfortable figure
too. If run into flight delays, this desire will undoubtedly be greatly
reduced. The information at this time delay and then not know, time-delayed,
passengers will certainly unacceptable, disputes occur naturally.
In fact, the flight delays is a worldwide
problem. 2010 winter I go to Britain exchanges in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
airport transit flight delays encountered when the situation. The good news is
that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to 50 euros per passenger compensation vouchers
for machine consumption, such an approach has been welcomed by visitors.
However, China's aviation delays to passengers compensation mechanism is not
yet ripe, this paper aims to explore the liability of flight delays, flight
delays and legislative proposals.
Second, the flight
delays and its associated source of law
Problem of flight
delays on the main source of law 'Contract Law', 'Civil Aviation' and the civil
aviation authorities of the relevant rules and to participate in 1929, 'the
Warsaw Convention.' Here, the author does not go into details of which shall be
specific provisions in respect of each method of analysis of the links between
sources.
As the 'Civil Aviation Act' is the 'Contract
Law' special law, in dealing with the issue of flight delays, especially law
should take precedence. Comparison of the two law difficult to find,
'the Civil Aviation Law' on 'contract law' the provisions of the obligation on
the delay also has developed a successor. Specifically: From the perspective of
responsibility principle, 'the Civil Aviation Law' Article 126 established the
principle of presumption of fault, as long as the carrier can prove that the
loss in order to avoid the occurrence took all necessary measures or impossible
to take such measures do not accept responsibilities. 'Contract Law' Article 299
does not require fault, as long as the carrier delays in carriage, it should be
arranged according to the requirements of passengers switch to or refund. From
the form of liability perspective, Article 126 clearly liability for damages,
and the 'Contract Law' Article 299 specifies only to switch and arrange a
refund, did not mention damages. However, according to General Regulation 107
provides that the parties do not comply with the contract to fulfill
contractual obligations, it shall continue to perform and take remedial
measures, or damages. Therefore, the delay caused by passenger transport if the
actual loss, passengers may request the carrier compensation. Two law does not
contradict the provisions herein.
In addition, 'the Civil Aviation Law' Article
126 lies in the implications of the distinction between reasons for flight
delays. In other words, if the flight is delayed due to force majeure, then the
carrier is not liable. Such a provision also with the 'Contract Law' and
consistent, though not mentioned in Article 299 of the carrier's exemptions,
but the General Regulation 117 can be applied. Visible, analyze causes delay in
performance is necessary, I will make a specific analysis below.
In short, 'the Civil Aviation Law' and the 'Contract Law,' the whole is the
same strain, but also in terms of the profit and loss responsibility principle.
The reason is that: first, the 'Contract Law' principle adopted no-fault
principle, Article 299 is no exception. It provides a form of liability is to
arrange and switch to a refund, and the carrier's main duty is to travelers to
the agreed place, regardless of any delay in performance is due to the carrier
should switch to and actively arrange refund. The 'Civil Aviation Law' Article
126 focused on the carrier's liability for damages described. Responsibility
Responsibility Principle on different forms vary. Second, look at the
legislative intent, flight delays are sensitive issues in real life, on the one
hand to fully protect the interests of the individual travelers, we must also
show consideration for airline benefits. Do such a trade-off is due to the
special nature of the air transport industry, complexity and unpredictability.
Thus, in order to protect the rights of travelers mining presumed fault, the burden
of proof on the carrier; also taking into account the emergence of force
majeure, insisting carrier's liability, will cause its huge economic losses,
thus giving the opportunity to the carrier exemption. Third, Section 126 is
also consistent with international treaties. 'Warsaw Convention', 'Montreal
Convention' are used presumed fault principle, China, as the 'Warsaw
Convention' States parties are obliged to adopt appropriate formulation is
consistent with domestic law. This is also the principle of presumption of
fault to determine the important factors. In clarifying the 'Contract Law' and
the 'civil law' relationship, then for the 'civil law' to elaborate specific
provisions.
Third, the flight
delays due to legal implications and v.
(A) Definition of
flight delays 'flight delay' is defined primarily in the 'Aviation Law' Article
126, 'Civil Aviation Interpretation' further explained the carrier failed to
transport contract or a reasonable period of time the passengers arrive the
place of destination. The contract generally refers to the time on the ticket
or flight schedules carrier stated on passenger arrival time. If the contract
does not expressly agreed specific delivery time, it should be based on the
need to complete the transport time to determine whether it constitutes a
reasonable delay.
I believe that the above explanation obviously
unreasonable. Since the carrier stated on the flight schedule flight
arrival time is generally expected time, itself contains uncertainties and
therefore common practice with reference to national airlines for delays
incurred by the carrier should be interpreted as only a 'best effort reasonably
rapid transport of passengers and baggage. 'obligations. If the carrier failed
to prove that this obligation has been fulfilled, it constitutes an
unreasonable delay.
(Two) due to flight delays v. Air Transport is a
complex system activity. Any one part of problem will affect the normal safe
operation of air transport. Air transport high-tech, high-risk decision causes
flight delays is very complex. According to CAAC statistics, there are reasons
for flight delays caused by bad weather, airline reason, flow control,
maintenance, airports, passengers causes joint inspection systems and other
categories. Reasons such as these are often intricately intertwined, what kinds
of reasons of force majeure, which is the carrier's own problems existing laws
and regulations have not been reunified. 'China's civil aviation passenger and
baggage domestic transportation rules' on page 57 and 58 cited a number of
reasons but still not exhaustive. Civil Aviation Administration issued a
'financial compensation for flight delays guidance' are not clearly defined,
not to mention the views of an internal document that does not have the force
of law, only public commitment by airlines only have contractual effect.
China's current
legislative guide is to take care of the interests of airlines, and consider
the interests of passengers less. Information asymmetry between the contract,
by contrast, the carrier proof ability, but because of flight delays caused by
passengers proof of actual loss is much more difficult. I propose to solve this
problem, you should modify the provisions of relevant laws and regulations
uniform liability reasons, OK 'unreasonable delay' meaning and specific
compensation standards to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of
consumers and fair performance of the contract of carriage.
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Fourth, according to
flight delays Responsibility Rules and Regulations
As a party to the
contract of carriage, the airline's main contractual obligations in accordance
with the agreed time, the travelers reach their destination safe and timely
manner, in the face of delays have informed, assistance, redress and
compensation obligations. The passenger in the face of flight delays have three
rights: the right to know, to choose and the right to claim. Now the liability
of flight delays is analyzed as follows:
(A) the nature of liability Although air tickets listed on the expected delay
time can not be considered as a direct basis, but it does not negate the
contract between the airline and the passenger relations and delays occurred
liability. As long as the airline violated reasonable best efforts prompt
delivery obligations resulting travelers frustrated the legitimate expectations
should bear liability for breach.
(Two) the period of responsibility, 'the Civil Aviation Law' Article 125
provides air transport period is: 'In the airport, aircraft or at any place of
landing outside the airport, checked baggage, cargo is in the charge of the
carrier period.'
(Three) the principle of presumption of fault
attributable to the principle.
(Four) the form of an obligation. Damages from 'the
Civil Aviation Law' Article 126 that: a passenger on the occurrence of damage
to the facts bear the burden of proof. Second, the conditions for exemption is
to prove that the carrier has taken the necessary measures to avoid the damage
or force majeure. Third, the responsibility limit. 'Montreal Convention' in the
'Warsaw Convention' based on the increase of the limits of liability 4150SDR
iv, reduce airline delays responsibility, and China has not yet promulgated
laws and regulations on the liability limit.
Need to be clear, is not necessarily caused by flight delays, the issue of
compensation, only to passengers due to flight delays caused by the actual
economic losses, the carrier is only liable for damages. Actual economic loss
due to flight delays, including room and board costs, endorsable tickets and
additional costs incurred other travelers can indeed prove a direct loss. In
real life there are passengers require airlines compensation for flight delays
caused by the indirect losses, such as the case of bungled opportunities,
because the airline business are unaware of conclusion of the contract and can
not be foreseen, should be excluded.
At present, 'the Civil Aviation Law,' is still a matter of principle, not in
the relevant laws and regulations in specific, which led to many problems in
practice. Such as flight delays occurred a little one, some travelers would
require compensation. Even induce non-ethical behavior, some of the passengers
in the reasons for the delay eliminated denied boarding, the purpose is to
obtain compensation from the airline. Such institutional defects induced
travelers irrational rights, interfere with the normal order of air transport,
resulting in greater losses to the airline.
(2) Other forms of liability, including refund,
Meal, a seating area, accommodation, transport and communications facilities. The first two forms of
liability for breach of the general performance of the return and replace
concrete manifestation in the field of aviation law, while the remaining form
of liability is the principle of good faith in the development of the field of
air law that the carrier's accompanying obligations.
(Five) exemptions is one of the carrier
exemptions emergence of force majeure, which is closely related to the reasons
for flight delays. Regulatory authorities should be classified
reasons for the delay will be clear what force majeure. Only in this way in the
face of airline delays can recognize their own responsibility to provide
appropriate solutions to promote the settlement of disputes. But also to
promote the airport and the air traffic control sector in a serious and
responsible attitude to prevent and reduce delays, loss of accountability for
the airline delay provide the basis for third-party liability.
Five Conclusion
In summary, I believe
that the system in accordance with regulations, 'flight delay' issue, should
first clarify its legal definition, and secondly should analyze the airline
should bear legal responsibility, and refer to the 'Montreal Convention' approach
to determine the delay limits of liability.