One in four flights in Australia are delayed. At least one in 50 are cancelled. Australian governments have never legislated consumer protections for air passengers. Sunday’s announcement of a draft charter of passenger rights goes some way towards addressing the frustrations of the system but it left out the most important issue: the need for cash compensation for delayed flights.

When a flight is significantly delayed in Canada, every passenger receives $400. In the US, $100. In the EU, a full refund and €250. Those payments are made within days. In Australia we’re lucky to get a $20 meal voucher. Under the draft charter, airlines will have to help passengers delayed for more than three hours find another flight and provide meals and accommodation – but they won’t pay compensation for those delays or for missed connections. For the price........

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