EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Transport

MEPs and governments call for greater flexibility in air passenger rights regulation

Brussels, 14/04/2020 (Agence Europe)

There are an increasing number of urgent calls for a solution that will allow air passengers to be reimbursed without further weakening the airlines.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, several European ministers are pleading for a voucher system to replace refunds due to passengers whose flights were cancelled, a provision which is made legally impossible by the European regulation on passenger rights (see 261/2004 - EUROPE B12459A7).

However, the airlines are in the middle of a...