In Moldova, it is planned to quadruple fines for airlines that infringe on the interests of consumers by canceling/delaying flights.
This is provided for by the relevant amendments to the Code of Contraventions, which the Civil Aviation Authority proposed to make. In addition, the Regional State Administration has initiated a draft amendment to the Regulations on the authorization of flights and the use of national airspace by civil and state aircraft, which will create the possibility of suspension / withdrawal of permits for regular / non-scheduled flights in case of violations affecting the rights of passengers. These clarifications were provided by the CAA in its communication regarding the investigation into the July 9 Fly One flight cancellation situation and the actions taken by the CAA. As noted, the cascading cancellation of many Fly One flights was associated with the delay of the A-319 aircraft at the Zvartnots airport (Yerevan, Armenia), as a result of a serious incident (a technical malfunction during takeoff run). As a result, the delay of an aircraft that was part of the company's flight network immediately made significant changes to the flight schedule. The regional state administration noted that, in accordance with the current regulatory framework, the issuance of permits for regular flights is issued for a period of 1 year and, when issuing them, the regional state administration took into account the company's available capacities, in addition, the company intended to acquire ownership of 2 A-321 aircraft (220 seats each) that were not supplied by the contracting party. Following the cancellation of Fly One flights, the Regional State Administration initiated an assessment of the company's transport capabilities and flight network. As a result of the analysis and discussions with the airline, in order to reduce the risks of flight cancellation/delay, a number of changes were made to the previously issued by the CAA flight permits. In this regard, on July 12, an administrative act was issued that corrected the permits previously issued to Fly One. As emphasized by the Regional State Administration, these interventions will not affect either passengers, since the airline will fulfill its obligations to transport passengers in accordance with the tickets sold, nor financial stability, nor the freedom of the airline to choose the directions in which it will operate. Herewith, due to the recent increase in long-term flight delays by some airlines, the Regional State Administration, as an institution endowed with the prerogative of consumer protection in the field of civil aviation, considers it necessary to apply the principles and approaches of the EU countries regarding the prevention of unreasonable delay / cancellation of flights. Thus, in order to avoid infringing the interests of consumers, as well as in order to prevent entrepreneurs from engaging in activities that may harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, the Regional State Administration submitted a draft amendment to the Code of Contraventions, which provide for a significant increase in fines for violating the rules on protecting the rights of consumers, expressed in the use of unfair commercial practices by the merchant (Article 344, paragraph (3), letter d), from the current amount of 30-60 conventional units to 120-240 conventional units, which should increase the discretion of merchants when selling services to consumers in the civil aviation. In addition, a draft amendment was initiated to the Regulations on the authorization of flights and the use of national airspace by civil and state aircraft, which will create the possibility of suspension / withdrawal of permits for regular / non-scheduled flights in case of violations affecting the rights of passengers. Once the situation is corrected, the operator may request that the suspension be lifted and that the frequencies be increased to the original ones.// 12.07.2022 — InfoMarket
