Aviation Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Questions (26)

Gerald Nash

Question:

26. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to prohibit so-called ghost flights to avoid the payment of refunds to customers; the amount still owed to Irish customers as a result of Covid-19-related flight cancellations; his plans to prohibit exorbitant fees being charged to families to change flight dates in line with public health advice (details supplied) and the no flight-change fee advertisements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this issue with me. Whatever the strict legal position regarding people's entitlements to refunds and rebookings, clearly the situation you are describing is not acceptable and is terribly unfair. I have received a number of other similar complaints recently, as people have started to take decisions in relation to the Summer 2021 plans. I will be raising this issue with the airlines directly.