EU warns Italy for failing to refund cancelled flights in cash
Italy violated EU rules by allowing airlines to offer flight vouchers instead of refunds for journeys cancelled during the coronavirus emergency, the European Commission says.
Under EU rules protecting passengers' rights, consumers are entitled to choose between a voucher or reimbursement in money – even amid the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting crisis for travel companies.
But Italy has adopted legislation allowing airlines – as well as boat, bus and train companies – to make vouchers the only form of compensation on offer.
READ ALSO:
-
Are flights around Europe returning to normal after borders reopen?
-
Flights from the US to Italy are back on - but will you be allowed to board?
"Throughout this crisis, the Commission has consistently made clear that passenger rights remain valid in the current unprecedented context and national measures to support the industry must not lower them," states the European Commission, which on Thursday began infringement proceedings against Italy for violating EU rules.
The commission has also opened similar proceedings against Greece. Each country now has two months to respond or face a formal request to comply with EU law.
Italy was further put on notice for allowing tour operators to refund package holidays in vouchers instead of money, or to take more than 14 days to reimburse travellers. Nine other countries received the same warning: the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, France, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia.
Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP
Several member states had called for the EU to temporarily relax its rules on refunds amid the crisis, which has left many companies with severely limited cashflow.
But while companies can encourage travellers to accept flight credits by making them more attractive – by extending the validity period or making them transferable to other services, for example – they must continue to offer a choice, the European Commission says.
READ ALSO:
-
What it's like flying to Italy from within the EU right now
-
'How I managed to travel from the US to Italy during lockdown'
One reader who travelled to Italy from Ireland last week told The Local that when Aer Lingus moved her Dublin-London flight back, making it impossible for her to make her Alitalia connection to Rome, "Alitalia told me I had two options: cancel the flight and lose all my money, or accept a voucher for the value to be used within 12 months. I took the voucher."
On Friday Italy's competition watchdog said it had opened investigations into Alitalia and Spanish airline Volotea for selling tickets on flights that were subsequently cancelled and offering passengers only credits as compensation. The Italian government had already lifted its travel restrictions at the time, the competition authority said.
Italian consumer rights associations have threatened class action lawsuits unless Italy complies with the EU's rules and say that consumers could go to court to get their money back.
Consumer watchdog Codacons has created a form that passengers can use to request a monetary refund from their airline in the event of a cancelled flight (you'll need to join the association to access it, at a cost of €2).
What are my rights if my journey is cancelled?
In its guidelines on passenger rights during the Covid-19 pandemic, issued in May, the European Commission states:
"In the event of a cancellation by the carrier, passengers have the choice, to be offered to them by the carrier, between reimbursement (refund) and re-routing.
"As re-routing is hardly applicable under the present circumstances, the de facto choice is mainly between the various possibilities for reimbursement.
READ ALSO:
-
Here are the current rules on travelling to Italy
-
When will Americans be allowed to travel to Italy again?
"Reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket is due within 7 days following the passenger’s request in the cases of air, sea and inland waterways transport, 14 days after the offer has been made or the request has been received for bus and coach transport and 1 month after the request in the case of rail transport.
"Under the Union legislation, the reimbursement can be made in money or in the form of a voucher. However, reimbursement by means of a voucher is only possible if the passenger agrees."
Comments
See Also
Under EU rules protecting passengers' rights, consumers are entitled to choose between a voucher or reimbursement in money – even amid the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting crisis for travel companies.
But Italy has adopted legislation allowing airlines – as well as boat, bus and train companies – to make vouchers the only form of compensation on offer.
READ ALSO:
- Are flights around Europe returning to normal after borders reopen?
- Flights from the US to Italy are back on - but will you be allowed to board?
"Throughout this crisis, the Commission has consistently made clear that passenger rights remain valid in the current unprecedented context and national measures to support the industry must not lower them," states the European Commission, which on Thursday began infringement proceedings against Italy for violating EU rules.
The commission has also opened similar proceedings against Greece. Each country now has two months to respond or face a formal request to comply with EU law.
Italy was further put on notice for allowing tour operators to refund package holidays in vouchers instead of money, or to take more than 14 days to reimburse travellers. Nine other countries received the same warning: the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, France, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia.
Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP
Several member states had called for the EU to temporarily relax its rules on refunds amid the crisis, which has left many companies with severely limited cashflow.
But while companies can encourage travellers to accept flight credits by making them more attractive – by extending the validity period or making them transferable to other services, for example – they must continue to offer a choice, the European Commission says.
READ ALSO:
- What it's like flying to Italy from within the EU right now
- 'How I managed to travel from the US to Italy during lockdown'
One reader who travelled to Italy from Ireland last week told The Local that when Aer Lingus moved her Dublin-London flight back, making it impossible for her to make her Alitalia connection to Rome, "Alitalia told me I had two options: cancel the flight and lose all my money, or accept a voucher for the value to be used within 12 months. I took the voucher."
On Friday Italy's competition watchdog said it had opened investigations into Alitalia and Spanish airline Volotea for selling tickets on flights that were subsequently cancelled and offering passengers only credits as compensation. The Italian government had already lifted its travel restrictions at the time, the competition authority said.
Italian consumer rights associations have threatened class action lawsuits unless Italy complies with the EU's rules and say that consumers could go to court to get their money back.
Consumer watchdog Codacons has created a form that passengers can use to request a monetary refund from their airline in the event of a cancelled flight (you'll need to join the association to access it, at a cost of €2).
What are my rights if my journey is cancelled?
In its guidelines on passenger rights during the Covid-19 pandemic, issued in May, the European Commission states:
"In the event of a cancellation by the carrier, passengers have the choice, to be offered to them by the carrier, between reimbursement (refund) and re-routing.
"As re-routing is hardly applicable under the present circumstances, the de facto choice is mainly between the various possibilities for reimbursement.
READ ALSO:
- Here are the current rules on travelling to Italy
- When will Americans be allowed to travel to Italy again?
"Reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket is due within 7 days following the passenger’s request in the cases of air, sea and inland waterways transport, 14 days after the offer has been made or the request has been received for bus and coach transport and 1 month after the request in the case of rail transport.
"Under the Union legislation, the reimbursement can be made in money or in the form of a voucher. However, reimbursement by means of a voucher is only possible if the passenger agrees."
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.