(Posted 11th September 2025)
The upcoming ICAO Assembly will see many important papers debated. One of the papers submitted by IATA focuses on the success of ICAO’s Core Principles on Consumer Protection which provide a consistent framework and take a pragmatic approach to what travelers should expect when things do not go as planned. We’re pleased to share a blog from our recently-appointed Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Thomas Reynaert on this topic. You are welcome to quote from this blog or to republish it.
Key quote:
“A strengthened and supported ICAO Core Principles on Consumer Protection will ensure that on the rare occasion things go wrong, passengers get the right and proportionate support. Equally importantly, the Principles should incentivize the aviation system to do better, rather than just punishing airlines for falling short.”
Key points from the blog include:
The importance of context and proportionality: The vast majority of passengers are satisfied with their travel experience, and the ICAO Principles are clear that consumer protection measures should be proportionate
Global consistency on regulations is vital: Passengers expect this, and it ensures compliance costs are reduced.
Some governments have gone beyond the ICAO Principles: Such ‘mission creep’ undermines the Principles and their effectiveness. EU261, for example, adds billions in costs without incentivizing better performance across the aviation system.
We believe the ICAO Principles should be reaffirmed and enhanced: A decade on from their introduction, the ICAO Principles should be modified to reflect a decade of change in the industry, and crucially, supported by governments.
Read Thomas Reynaert’s blog here
