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Majority of EU states back suspension of air travel refunds, France says

Published 05/02/2020, 01:16 PM
Updated 05/02/2020, 01:20 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Barcelona

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Barcelona

PARIS (Reuters) - Germany, Italy and Spain have joined a call by 12 European Union governments for the EU's executive body to suspend rules forcing crisis-hit airlines to offer full cash refunds for cancelled flights, France said in a statement on Saturday.

The dozen EU governments, including Paris, urged the European Commission on Wednesday to suspend rules forcing the cash-drained airlines to offer refunds instead of vouchers for future travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm glad a very large majority of member states are supporting my request to authorise airlines and maritime groups to temporarily use vouchers when trips are cancelled, so as to relieve their cash reserves while protecting passengers' rights to a refund," French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said in a statement.

Airlines across Europe, including Lufthansa (DE:LHAG) and Air France-KLM (PA:AIRF), have sought state rescues as coronavirus lockdowns have forced them to ground their fleets for more than a month, with no end in sight.

The European Commission, which is set to issue guidelines on how the broader transport industry could gradually restart, has said so far that airlines must follow EU rules and provide refunds for cancelled flights.

They should only issue vouchers if passengers accept them.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Barcelona

Governments in favour of a temporary waiver have said vouchers should be valid for a set period and include the right to reimbursement if they are not used before the expiry date. Protection should also be provided in the case of airline bankruptcies.

Latest comments

Gov force them to shut down, gov pays from tax payers money. Some travelers whine because it is all about ‘me’.
Damn inscane, I know that some companies cheat with such things as vouchers, cause e.g. an unregistered user can book a flight for 20 EUR, but a registered one is forced to book it for 50 EUR. That's what I've seen with RyanAir (that's the only one option to another destination from the place I am now...., so I can't flight with normal airlines....)
this is insane put people first
Gov money put burden on society. It is not ok to pass it to society just to save a few dollars for travelers. If the voucher dont have any expiration, then we r good.
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