Passengers could get flight refunds in 14 days in EU law shake-up

Travellers could get refunds for cancelled flights within two weeks in a proposed shake-up of European Union passenger protections. The European Commission on Wednesday adopted a new proposal designed to bolster passenger rights following widespread rows over airline refund policies sparked by Covid cancellations. Passengers will be entitled to refunds for cancelled flights within 14 days, even if they have bought the ticket as part of a package through a travel agent, if it becomes law. Where airlines offer vouchers, they must clarify that customers can insist on refunds. Airlines’ different approaches to EU refund rules led to anger among people whose flights were cancelled in March 2020, amid a worldwide grounding of air travel to combat Covid’s spread. The commission says the new rules build on lessons learned during the pandemic and from the collapse in 2019 of the Thomas Cook Travel Group, which stranded thousands of holidaymakers. The 14-day rule will also apply to anyone buying flights from a travel agent or as part of a package. In that instance, carriers and other service providers must reimburse the agents in seven days to allow payment to their customers. The proposal gives those using different transport, for example, flights, trains and buses, in one journey the right to better information on cancellations, delays and connection times.<br/>