The Rising Tide and Global Reach of Passenger Rights Legislation – Fragmentation to Harmonization
With the proliferation of national and regional passenger rights laws, this panel will examine the
growing risk of legal fragmentation in international air transport. Topics include overlapping obligations
under regional and national legislations (such as EU Regulation 261/2004, the U.S. Air Carrier Access
Act, Canada’s APPR) and consider implications for multimodal transport. Panelists will assess the
feasibility of harmonized standards, the role of treaty and ICAO provisions, and the legal implications
for airlines operating across jurisdictions. The session will also explore enforcement challenges, liability
gaps, and the potential for a global passenger rights framework.
Moderator:
Doug Mullen, Acting Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Airlines for America (A4A)
Panelists:
- Martine de Serres, Assistant General Counsel, Customer Regulatory and Resolution, Air Canada
- Daniel Wand, 4 Kings Bench Walk Chambers, London, United Kingdon
- Marco Ramazotti, Legal Adviser, Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC)
- Ricardo Bernardi, Partner, Bernardi and Schnapp Advocates, Brazil