However, IATA warns that these rules have become somewhat outdated, partly due to changes the sector experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and due to factors such as airspace closures, sudden schedule disruptions, and natural events affecting air operations. The association argues that assistance and compensation requirements should be proportionate to the level of disruption and flexible enough to allow reasonable exemptions in cases that are unforeseeable or beyond airline control.
One of the central points of the proposal is to avoid fragmented or overly rigid regulations. IATA cautions that if each country enacts very different rules—or imposes excessively strict costs and liabilities—ticket prices could rise, airline competitiveness could decline, and the ability to respond to global crises could be hindered. Harmonizing regulations, therefore, would not only better protect passengers but also help maintain the operational and economic efficiency of air transport.
At ICAO’s upcoming Assembly in September, IATA will urge member states to adopt these strengthened principles and incorporate them into national regulatory frameworks. The goal is to establish an updated global reference that ensures travelers know their rights no matter where they fly from, while enabling airlines to operate within reasonable, predictable, and balanced expectations.
The initiative focuses on several key areas, including transparency in communication so passengers receive timely and clear information about changes or cancellations, the reasons for disruptions, potential compensation, and the rights that apply to their situation. It also highlights the need for effective dispute resolution mechanisms that are neither lengthy nor costly, as well as specific provisions to ensure accessibility and assistance for passengers with disabilities.
Furthermore, consumer protection must strike a fair balance: airlines should not be burdened with disproportionate obligations. Compensation and assistance measures should correspond to what can be reasonably applied, considering factors within the airline’s control versus those outside it—such as natural disasters, airspace closures, public health emergencies, or other similar events beyond their responsibility.
Through these proposals, IATA aims for international regulation to serve as a robust global baseline that all states can adopt and adapt locally without losing consistency. The revisions are also expected to reflect lessons learned from the pandemic—how to manage severe disruptions, safeguard vulnerable passengers, and maintain the long-term sustainability of air operations.
IATA’s proposal seeks not only to reinforce passenger rights but also to foster a fairer, more transparent, and more sustainable aviation ecosystem. By balancing public expectations with the operational realities of airlines, the initiative strives to ensure that all stakeholders operate under clear and globally aligned rules.
