An agreement has been reached in a court of justice in Lithuania with Latvian airline airBaltic on payment of compensation to passengers worth a total of EUR 120,000, according to representatives of flight compensation assistance company Skycop.
Last year, Skycop commenced more than 200 litigations against airBaltic over the airline’s unpaid compensation to passengers. Following several decisions of Lithuanian courts, which satisfied pleas from Skycop, the parties reached an agreement. Litigations against airBaltic continue in Poland and Latvia.
Skycop, referencing EU regulation, sued airBaltic in court, demanding payment of compensation to 385 passengers for delayed, cancelled or oversold flights.
“Finally the fight between Skycop and airBaltic has come to an end. Now passengers will be able to receive compensations for inconveniences. Once Skycop has received the amount agreed upon in court from airBaltic and formalities have been settled, payment of compensation amounts to passengers can commence,” says lawyer Neirijus Zaleckas, who represents Skycop and passengers’ interests.
“Such cases have a definite effect on airlines’ general attitude. Skycop and other compensation assistance companies function in accordance with EU regulation 261/2004 and urge airlines to comply with requirements of the law. From now on such litigations will appear only as exceptions to the general rule,” says Zaleckas.
Skycop notes that litigations have been launched against airlines like airBaltic, Ryanair, Swiss Air Lines, Iberia, Vueling, Enter Air, Smartwings Poland, Ukraine International Airlines, and others.
airBaltic says peace talks have commenced. Each case will be closed individually. During peace talks it will be decided if compensations should be paid in like with a specific EU regulation, as well as whether or not all appropriate documents were submitted by Skycop during proceedings. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
