ECTAA recalls the pressing need for a scheme protecting air passengers across the EU.
In the last decade there have been more than 96 European airlines which have filed for bankruptcy, each time leaving thousands of passengers stranded and even more airline customers with no hope of getting a refund for their prepaid tickets.
On Friday 9 January 2015, the Board of Cyprus Airways decided to suspend operations following the order of the European Commission (DG Competition) to recover incompatible state aid from the national air carrier.
ECTAA welcomes the adoption of emergency measures by the Cypriot government and main stakeholder of the national flag carrier to provide passengers with alternative tickets and routings. This is a positive change compared to the passengers of the airlines Spanair and Malev, which ceased operations at the beginning of 2012, where passengers were not provided with the same assistance and where some are still waiting to be refunded today.
This unfortunate case once again stresses the fact that there is no protection for passengers within the EU when an airline suspends operations in particular in the case of financial failure. While a similar protection is already in place for citizens travelling under a package travel contract with a tour operator, ECTAA and its 32 Members Associations deplores the reluctance of the EU legislator to adopt an appropriate legislation to protect EU air passengers.
In the last decade there have been more than 96 European airlines which have filed for bankruptcy, each time leaving thousands of passengers stranded and even more airline customers with no hope of getting a refund for their prepaid tickets.
ECTAA urges the European legislator to translate the European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2009 on passenger compensation in the event of airline bankruptcy into a mandatory legislation. The European Parliament has proposed a specific amendment to the legislative proposal revising the air passenger rights, entitling passengers to re-routing or refund in case an airline goes bankrupt, is suspended or ceases operations. Unfortunately this amendment is not supported by the Commission nor the Member States.
Said Lars Thykier President of ECTAA. “After the financial failures of SPANAIR, MALEV and many other airlines, with tickets worth millions of Euros non-refunded, the unfortunate situation of Cyprus Airways highlights once again the absolute need for a European scheme to protect air travellers.”
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