THE UK Civil Aviation
Authority is investigating
airline seating policies
following a survey showing
that these policies are
confusing to clients. The
CAA has also said it will
not hesitate to take action
should investigation findings
require this.
The investigation didn’t
cover families with young
children for whom there are
specific seating safety rules
in place.
Andrew Haines, ce of the
CAA in the UK said: “Airlines
are within their rights to
charge for allocated seats
but if they do so it must be
in a fair and transparent
way. Our research shows
that some consumers are
paying to sit together when,
in fact, they might not need
to.”
The CAA estimates
that UK consumers may
be paying up to £390m
(R6,4bn) per year for
allocated seating, with
charges ranging from
£5 (R83) to over £30
(R495) per seat.
Kabelo Ledwaba,
manager: communications
of the South African Civil
Aviation Authority, said
the International Civil
Aviation Organisation
expected members to adopt
international standards and
recommended practices.
He said regulatory changes
taking local dynamics
into account would be
implemented in South Africa
if required.
