Airlines Face Legal Challenge Over Flight Refund Policies Amid EU Pressure

This appeal by the two associations comes after the opening of an infringement procedure by the European Commission against ten EU countries including France. According to Air Journal, the European Commission had reminded the air sector as early as May that reimbursement should remain the rule for cancelled travel or flights. It therefore encouraged them to improve their vouchers in order to support the sector hit hard by the health crisis.

In a joint press release published online, the two associations believe that by allowing professionals the right to impose vouchers instead of reimbursement, and by postponing to 18 months (the validity period of the vouchers) the possibility of being reimbursed, the order of March 25 "doubly violates European texts".

According to the UFC, the reimbursement of consumers is required more than 4 months after the first flight cancellations, and in view of the fragility of the economic situation of certain households. It also specifies that it is not up to consumers to "save travel agencies by waiving their rights".

According to the same association, the short-term economic reasoning of the profession could, in the face of the current mistrust, backfire on them in the longer term... "France and the nine other countries concerned by the infringement procedure have two months to respond to the European Commission; failing which, the latter could force them to comply with EU law," the same source recalls.