Filenews 11 June 2024
The Department of Civil Aviation acquires the ability to impose an administrative fine on air carriers and/or airport operators operating in the Republic of Cyprus, if it considers that they violate the rights of persons with disabilities (PWD) or persons with reduced mobility.
The Department of Civil Aviation will acquire the above possibility as a competent body within the framework of harmonizing Regulations that have been submitted before Parliament.
The Regulations provide that "the Department has the ability to carry out inspections and ensure the satisfactory implementation of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, as a whole, when travelling by air and imposing administrative penalties accordingly'.
It is also stated that "if, pursuant to paragraph (2) of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, a passenger with disabilities or reduced mobility considers that the air carrier or airport managing body has not satisfied its rights under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, it may address itself to the competent body, submitting in writing the complaint and the relevant details of the incident".
If, after examining the complaint, the competent body determines that the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 have been infringed, the complainant and the passenger shall be informed by means of a reasoned decision no later than 60 days after the submission of the written complaint.
If the competent body determines that a violation of the provisions of the relevant Regulation has been committed, then this violation is considered an "administrative violation" according to article 243 of the Law and the competent body may impose on an air carrier or the managing body of the airport, the administrative penalties provided for in the relevant articles of legislation.
