NORTH-EAST Euro MP Stephen Hughes has welcomed new European laws that will see passengers receive cash for cancelled flights.

The new air passenger rights will see compensation for travellers whose flights have been cancelled or delayed and will be approved by the European Parliament in Strasbourg next Thursday.

The new laws should also apply to low fare airlines like Ryanair and Easy Jet and will help prevent the practice of overbooking and cancelling flights for commercial reasons.

Mr Hughes said: "Airlines must take responsibility for the distress and inconvenience caused by flight delays. It is more than just about a missed flight. How can you compensate someone for the heartache caused by missing a funeral or a daughter's wedding?

"We're targeting those airlines who've dodged their responsibilities for years. The message for them is that basic consumer rights should apply whatever the price of your ticket.

"Some airlines shot themselves in the foot by refusing to join the voluntary schemes, with these new laws every airline will have to play by the same set of rules."

Compensation for short haul flights of less than 1,500km will be set at £173, with £277 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km and £415 compensation for long haul flights of 3,500km or more.

Mr Hughes said that airlines will also be named and shamed now, with new performance tables on lost luggage, delays and overbooking.