European Commission says Airlines must compensate customers for cancelled flights

The European Commission said that customers are entitled to either a voucher or cash refund in the event of a cancellation, despite the coronavirus crisis.

Travellers have paid in total £30bn for cancelled flights and getting it back is not proving easy.

All over the world, airlines have made it very hard to ask for refunds for cancelled flights, and some have been offering only vouchers.

The Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, said on May 13: “If you have lost your job, if this is your entire holiday budget for travelling that sits in these tickets you cannot use anymore, then you need a refund… And that is why we say this is your right, full stop”.

The guidelines read in part: “Under EU rules, travelers have the right to choose between vouchers or cash reimbursement for canceled transport tickets (plane, train, bus/coach, and ferries) or package travel.”

Let’s see if finally customers may eventually be compensated for the flights they booked.