ECA report says that EU air passenger rights “fall by the wayside during the pandemic”

Air passengers’ rights have not been safeguarded in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). The ECA claims that although airlines are legally required to give passengers their money back if they cancel flights, “many airlines forced their customers to accept vouchers, instead, a practice which is unlawful”. The EU auditors also point out that airlines and package-tour operators received billions of euros of state aid, “aid which was provided without being conditional on passengers being reimbursed”. “Among its many consequences, the pandemic has had a harmful effect on EU air