Children in danger from aircraft seatbelts, warns MEP
Children have been seriously injured by the loop belt attached to the seatbelt of the adult travelling with them, MEP Jim Higgins told the parliament.
Airlines should instead replace the belts with child safety seats, similar to those used in cars, he said.
“It is surprising and worrying, given that the aviation sector is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, that something as simple but as important as child seatbelts have not been properly researched by the industry itself,” he added.
The parliament has asked the European Commission to take immediate action to make sure that children can travel on planes safely.
They want changes made to the technical requirements dealing with health and safety aspects on board aircraft, known as the EU-OPS system.
As a result the European technical committee with the commission will look at the best solution to the problem of child safety on board, and refer back to parliament with proposals.
They are also considering whether to make defibrillators mandatory on all commercial passenger aircraft travelling in the EU. Mr Higgins said this life-saving equipment for people suffering heart problems should be on every airplane.
“The commission has been very supportive of the idea and I am confident that when they go about redrawing the EU-OPS they will include mandatory provision of defibrillators,” he said.
The parliament has also told airlines they must include all taxes, fees and extra charges to the basic price of the ticket for passengers to see before they book seats.
“Passengers have a right to know the real price of a ticket. It is misleading to advertise a ticket as costing €1 when the actual price is significantly higher,” said Mr Higgins, who represents Ireland West.
Most airline companies have complied with the commission’s advice since last year. New regulations in the next 12 months will force them to do so.
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