NEW proposals from the European Commission will bring an end to passengers waiting helplessly at airports because their flights have been delayed or cancelled.

Changes would mean existing cover for scheduled flights will now include non-scheduled flights, as well as those sold as part of package holidays.

New stringent compensation rates will be set and passengers must be offered an alternative flight and reimbursement must be made for long delays or where the operator has made a cancellation.

Frequent flyer North West MEP Terry Wynn said: "These new proposals are a clear warning to airlines to stop punishing passengers, or face paying huge sums in compensation. More and more, people are using air travel through budget packages, and it was important that everyone, from the regular air passenger to the annual package holidaymaker, should be entitled to the flight they booked at the time and price they booked it.

"As part of my job, I see far too much of airports and dread those harrowing scenes of hundreds of people sleeping on benches in the lounges, and parents desperately seeking information about their flight and trying to comfort tired children.

"If this eventually becomes law, everyone should be able to look forward to an end to that kind of misery."