EU to recommend airlines, travel firms offer vouchers valid for at least a year

EU airlines and travel companies should offer vouchers for flights and holidays cancelled due to the coronavirus that are valid for at least 12 months, the EC says in recommendations to help revive travel and tourism in Europe. The recommendations, due to be presented on Wednesday, seek to make vouchers attractive to passengers who may otherwise demand full refunds. EU member states have urged the EU’s executive body to suspend rules forcing airlines to offer full refunds for cancelled flights because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU recommendations fall short of suspending the refund rules, but appear to offer a compromise in a bid to help cash-drained airlines and travel companies. The Commission will also recommend that vouchers are covered by member states against insolvency, according to the document. The vouchers should also offer the same services and route - in case of a flight - and travel conditions as the original booking. "Subject to availability and irrespective of any fare or price difference, carriers should ensure that vouchers allow passengers to travel on the same route under the same service conditions as detailed in the original booking; organisers should ensure that vouchers allow travellers to book a package travel contract with the same type of services or of equivalent quality as the terminated package," the document says.<br/>