European Parliament backs common refund form for disrupted journeys
The rules set a 14-day deadline for full refunds and require airlines to pay if a booking intermediary fails to reimburse passengers on time.
The European Parliament has approved passenger protection rules covering refunds after travel disruption, with 652 members voting in support, two opposing and eight abstaining. The regulation provides for a single refund claim form across all transport modes.
Passengers will be able to obtain the form from the European Commission’s website in every EU language. The rules entitle travellers to full reimbursement within 14 days, including when tickets were bought through travel agents or online booking platforms.
The regulation clarifies that those intermediaries have reimbursement obligations. Where an intermediary misses the deadline, the airline must pay the passenger instead.
For passengers with disabilities, the rules allow a companion to fly without charge where necessary. Such arrangements already apply to journeys by bus, train and ship.
The vote follows a broader revision of air passenger rights adopted in July. That overhaul simplified access to refunds and requires online airfares to include one hand-luggage item at no extra cost.
