352. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport if airlines or airport authorities have minimum standards for seating, or maximum waiting times during boarding (details supplied); and whether Ireland will work with others at EU level for minimum boarding-queue conditions to be added to the EU Regulation 261/2004 framework. [61000/26]

The operational management of boarding rests with the relevant airline operator. Airlines often adopt different boarding procedures depending on their operational requirements and service needs, as well as to ensure operational efficiency and on-time performance.

In some cases, passengers may proceed directly from the gate to the aircraft once boarding commences. In others, passengers may be pre-boarded and held in a designated area while the arriving aircraft is being prepared for departure. The approach used is determined by the airline and/or its handling agent.

Airport authorities do not prescribe boarding procedures, set maximum boarding wait times, or specify minimum seating standards for passengers waiting to board once the boarding process at the gate has commenced.

All airlines and ground handling agents operating at Irish airports are required to conduct their operations in compliance with applicable aviation safety, security, and accessibility requirements.

There are no regulatory standards that specifically govern this aspect of boarding. EU Regulation 261/2004 sets out the rights and entitlements of airline passengers in instances of flight cancellation, delay, and denied boarding.

The boarding process itself was not among the issues considered during the recent negotiations on EU passenger rights reforms, which focused primarily on passenger rights and assistance in the event of travel disruption. The negotiations resulted in agreement on a range of passenger protection measures, including clearer rules governing compensation and assistance for denied boarding and overbooking, re-routing entitlements, protections for persons with reduced mobility, and streamlined compensation claims procedures.

Where a passenger is dissatisfied with the manner in which the boarding process for a particular flight has been managed, they should, in the first instance, raise the matter with the airline concerned, as it is best placed to address the circumstances of the individual case.