Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan.23
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The Kazakh Ministry of Transport and Communications is carrying out work on ratification of the Montreal Convention which unifies the separate rules of international air transport, Kazakh Ministry of Transport and Communications said.
This work is aimed at protecting the interests of passengers and is also designed to replace outdated regulations for air transportation and to strengthen the responsibility of carriers towards passengers, according to the ministry.
The ministry said that the ratification of the Montreal Convention will give opportunities to Kazakh passengers using the services of western air carriers to protect their interests in a place of residence, for instance in the case of cancellation, replacement, delay of flights, loss or damage to baggage. Currently, it is possible to sue against a foreign airline only on the place of its registration.
"The first step is to ensure maximum conditions for passengers for obtaining high-quality services and as far as possible to make them independent of the risks related to the activities of the airlines. If problems arise, passengers should be able to protect their rights," Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Transport and Communications Beken Seidakhmetov said.
Seidakhmetov also pointed out that ratification of the convention will contribute towards increasing the responsibility of carriers and will harmonise Kazakh legislation with that of Western countries.
Currently the number of participants of the Montreal Convention totals 97 countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia EU countries and others.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.