Air carrier liability in case of air accidents

OBJECTIVE: to establish Community rules to improve compensation to passengers in the event of an air traffic accident. CONTENT: the proposal for a regulation defines the obligations of Community air carriers to cover liability in the event of accidents to passengers. It provides for the establishment of several key principles at Community level: - the abolition of all limits on air carriers' liability; - the introduction of strict liability on the part of the carrier up to ECU 100,000; - the obligation for the carrier to pay a lump sum of ECU 50,000 within ten days of the accident; - the possibility for passengers entitled to compensation to choose the court before which they wish to bring proceedings (mainly the passenger's place of residence). All these requirements must be stated in the Community air carriers conditions of transport (summarized on tickets). Third country carriers not subject to Community rules are also called on to provide passengers with clear, adequate information on these rules. �