The Consumer Protection Service, on the occasion of the situation prevailing in recent days at many airports, due to the strike of airline workers, wishes to inform affected travellers regarding their rights in case of cancellation or delay of their flight.
If the affected traveller's flight is part of a package tour, the traveller has the following rights under the Package Tours and Related Travel Arrangements Act 2017. [/LIST]
- If the package tour is eventually performed, but due to a long delay in flights, it could not be fully performed as agreed, the traveller is entitled to an appropriate reduction of the package price.
- In the event that the repatriation of the traveller is affected, either because of a long delay in the flight or its cancellation, the organiser must provide appropriate assistance or help to the traveller in difficulty. If it is impossible to secure the return of the traveller as agreed in the package travel contract, the organiser shall bear the cost of providing the necessary accommodation, if possible of an equivalent category to that included in the package accommodation, for a period not exceeding three (3) nights per traveller.
- In all the above cases the traveller is not entitled to additional compensation as this situation is an unavoidable and exceptional circumstance which is beyond the control of the organiser.
It should be noted that, in general, a package tour is considered to be a combination of at least two travel services purchased from a single point of sale at a single price.
In the case of a single flight, which is not part of a package tour, the passenger has the following rights, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004:
- In case of cancellation of the flight, the passenger is entitled either to a refund of the ticket price or to an alternative means of transport to the final destination and possibly additional financial compensation under certain conditions.
- If the flight is delayed on departure, the passenger is entitled to a refund of the ticket price or a return flight. If the delay is more than 3 hours to the final destination, the passenger may also be entitled to financial compensation. The same rights are granted in case of denied boarding by the airline.
Please note that the airline must always inform passengers of their rights.
For further information, please contact the Consumer Protection Service on telephone number 1429.
(MB/IC)
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