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9 Jul, 2014

EC smartphone app upgraded to uphold passenger rights during summer holidays

Brussels, 8 July 2014, European Commission Press release – The Commission’s free smartphone application for passenger rights has been upgraded just before the summer holidays to make it easy for all travellers to be informed about their rights in case something unexpected happens during their journey.

Featuring existing EU rules on passenger rights, the app provides information for all types of transportation: planes, trains, boats and buses – when and how the passenger rights apply. The app now contains some new features for visually impaired people and three more languages – Croatian, Serbian, and Albanian – in addition to the original 22 EU languages already available. The app is running on all the latest Apple iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices.

European Commission Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport said: “How many of us have wondered whether we are entitled to a compensation or any type of assistance when we experience problems with our journey, whatever means of transportation we chose! Many European travellers do not even know how and where they can get the right information about this. The right of information is one of the basic passenger rights. The smartphone app explains everything in detail, in 25 languages, and wherever, whenever the traveller needs it.”

The application has already been downloaded over 140,000 times. It can be very useful when experiencing travel disruption. For example passengers might be stranded at airports or stations because of delays, cancellations, denied boarding, or because they’re luggage is missing. Passengers with reduced mobility might need assistance. Information in case of accidents and damage to luggage are also included. With the passenger rights app everyone can check on the spot what are their rights, and get useful information on how to claim their rights. The app is easy to use and can be consulted at any moment offline.

The application is part of the Commission’s “Your Passenger Rights at Hand” campaign. As part of the campaign, a social media thematic week on Passenger Rights started on Monday 7 July and will last until 11 July 2014 on various social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Google+).