Brazil to revise passenger rights rules amid surge in airline lawsuits

Brazil's aviation regulator, Anac, is preparing to revise its passenger rights framework because of a large volume of litigation against airlines. A new version of Resolution 400 is expected by the end of August or, at the latest, in September, the agency said.

Anac said the existing obligations for airlines in cases of delays and cancellations will largely stay in place. But the agency wants a clearer line between the mandatory assistance carriers must provide passengers and separate civil claims for damages that passengers may pursue in court.

One part of the planned changes involves distinguishing more precisely between disruptions caused by the airline itself and those resulting from external factors. Under the revised approach, problems linked to crew shortages, aircraft issues or IT system failures could be treated differently from disruptions blamed on weather.

Anac has not detailed the exact wording of the forthcoming rules. The stated goal is to reduce the number of court cases brought against carriers while keeping passenger protections in principle. The agency gave no specific figures on current litigation volumes, and no timeline beyond the August-September target was provided.

The move comes amid broader scrutiny of consumer protection rules in Brazil's aviation sector. Further details are expected once the revised resolution is formally released.