Overview

This bill mandates the UK Secretary of State to propose amendments to the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions, expanding airline liability to include cases of detriment to health or psychological well-being resulting from air travel, beyond just physical injury.

Description

This legislation compels the Secretary of State to propose formal amendments to both the Warsaw Convention (as amended by the Hague Protocol of 1951 and Montreal Protocol 4 of 1975) and the Montreal Convention of 1999. The proposed changes would modify Article 17 in both conventions. Specifically, it will add "or detriment to health or psychological well-being" to the existing clauses covering bodily injury, thereby extending airlines' liability to cover non-physical harm suffered during air travel. The amendments must be proposed by April 1, 2011. The bill applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly involve government spending. However, the potential for increased compensation payouts by airlines could indirectly affect government revenue if it leads to increased insurance premiums or taxes on the aviation industry.

Groups Affected

Airlines: This bill will likely increase their liability and insurance costs.
Air Passengers: Passengers who experience psychological or health issues due to air travel may gain greater legal recourse for compensation.
Insurance Companies: Insurance premiums for airlines are likely to increase, affecting profitability.

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