Colombia congress to debate airline abuses

(Photo: EM Company)

Passengers are currently defenseless against Colombian airlines with perennial bad service, flight changes, and excessive fees, according to one Colombian lawmaker.

Coalition Senator Armando Benedetti (U Party), who is bringing the issue before congress, hopes the debate will result in the creation of air transportation regulations to provide customers with legal rights, as well as define sanctions for the violations of those rights.

“Right now there is no law in place to protect consumer rights,” Benedetti told Colombia Reports. “Airlines change flights, cancel flights for no reason, and don’t return the money.”

Benedetti plans to present a multitude of complaints by customers who have lost time and money at the airport, hoping that the Minister of Transport “shows her face” to respond.

Earlier this year, the government announced plans to invest $1.5 million in partnerships with airlines and private companies in order to increase tourism in the country, which already jumped 7.34% in 2013.

MORE: Colombia’s Avianca airline doubles group profit in 2 years

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