Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1020. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has met with companies (details supplied) regarding the reported refusal of both to provide their customers who have had cancelled bookings with a cash refund under the EU travel package directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/20]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation has statutory responsibility for enforcing airline refund obligations in Ireland, as enshrined in EU law under Regulation EC 261/2004. I understand that the Commission recently wrote to all airlines operating routes that service Ireland, reminding them of their legal obligations to provide refunds for cancelled bookings. I am aware that there are significant delays in making refunds, and while I can appreciate that there are genuine administrative challenges dealing with the unprecedented level of cancellations, the legal obligation to provide a refund is clear and unchanged. In accordance with Regulation EC 261/2004, passengers have the right to a refund of the ticket price paid when their flight is cancelled, and while airlines are entitled to offer vouchers to passengers instead, which passengers can choose to accept, the passenger is under no obligation to do so.
Anyone having difficulties securing a refund should contact the Commission. Further advice is available on its dedicated passenger rights website www.flightrights.ie.
