Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of EU regulation 261 (EU261) on UK air passengers.

The Government is clear that passengers should benefit from a high level of protection when travelling by air.

UK261 provides equivalent passenger rights and protections to EU261, including rights to compensation and assistance in cases of delay, cancellation and denied boarding.

While the UK is no longer bound by changes made to the EU legislation, the Department for Transport will continue to monitor developments relating to EU261. As the European Union has not yet concluded any reforms, no formal comparative or compatibility assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes has been made. Any potential reforms to the UK framework would be considered on the basis of evidence and merit and would be subject to public consultation.