After several written questions related to the revision of the regulation on air passenger rights, and also on irregularities caused by Covid-19 pandemic, Marc Angel – Member of the Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) in the European Parliament – initiated a follow-up written question to the European Commission on pandemic related disruptions of airline tickets bought via Online Travel Agents (OTA).
In its Recommendation 2020/648 launched on the 13th May 2020, the European Commission addressed several issues related to the reimbursement for cancelled transport services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This step was necessary, even if still until now several passengers’ tickets have not been refunded or dealt within the deadline.
At the same time, we also experience that passengers who bought their tickets via Online Travel Agents (OTA) are still facing even more burdens than other passengers. Airlines are not allowed to directly deal with the mentioned passengers and OTAs are not always offering the same options for travellers as the airlines (e.g. re-routing with same open conditions; same timeframe for decision-making; same reimbursement conditions etc.). Unfortunately, it also happens that even when a traveller is aware of cancellation on the airline’s official channels, still unable to make changes before OTA officially inform their on it.
This is why MEP Marc Angel initiated a written question to the European Commission. The 11 co-signer MEPs of the S&D Group (Socialists and Democrats) from AU, DE, DK, ES, FR, HR, IT, LU, PT and RO would like to know whether the European Commission intends to launch a Recommendation to tackle such irregularities? They also would like to know how the European Commission would like to grant equal treatment for pandemic related cancellations for passengers, regardless of the channel they bought their tickets?
Background:
In March 2020, MEP Marc Angel submitted several written questions to the European Commission on the ongoing revision of the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
- 1. MEP Marc Angel’s press release on ‘Revision der Fluggastrechte-Verordnung: negative Auswirkungen auf Passagierrechte?‘
- a. Question for written answer to the European Commission: ‘Air passengers‘ rights and extraordinary circumstances‘
- b. Question for written answer to the European Commission: ‘Revision of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – length of delays’
After the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, MEP Marc Angel mainly addressed the issue how to avoid the regression of passengers’ rights, in a manner that we provide concrete and correct measures, without harming the consumers’ rights.
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- 2. MEP Marc Angel’s press release on ‘The regression of passengers’ rights must be avoided over businesses cash-flow requests’
- a. Question for written answer to the European Commission: ‘Respect of reimbursement deadlines by EU airlines’
- b. Question for written answer to the European Commission: ‘Protecting passengers’ rights in the light of business cash-flow requests’
The written question mentioned in this press statement is a follow up question on a different aspect of the Covid-19 effects.
Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marc Angel (S&D), Sylvie Guillaume (S&D), Biljana Borzan (S&D), Adriana Maldonado López (S&D), Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D), Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (S&D), Clara Aguilera (S&D), Andreas Schieder (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Christel Schaldemose (S&D)
Subject: Pandemic related disruptions of airline tickets bought via OTA
In its Recommendation 2020/6481 launched on the 13th May 2020, the European Commission tackled several questions of the reimbursement for cancelled transport services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We think that this step was necessary, even if still until now several passengers’ tickets have not been refunded or dealt within the deadline.
At the same time, we also experience that passengers who bought their tickets via Online Travel Agents (OTA) are still facing even more burdens than other passengers. Airlines are not allowed to directly deal with the mentioned passengers and OTAs are not always offering the same options for travellers as the airlines (e.g. re-routing with same open conditions; same timeframe for decision making; same reimbursement conditions etc.). Unfortunately, it also happens that even when a traveller is aware of cancellation via the airline’s official channels, still unable to make changes before the official communication of the OTA.
1) Does the Commission intend to launch a Recommendation on such irregularities caused by the pandemic and related to tickets bought via OTAs?
2) How would the Commission like to grant equal treatment for pandemic related cancellations for passengers, regardless of the channel they bought their tickets?
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Supporter2
1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2020.151.01.0010.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2020:151:TOC
2 This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Maria Grapini (S&D)
