Recommendation (EU) 2020/648 on vouchers offered to passengers and travellers as an alternative to reimbursement for cancelled package travel and transport services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary:

Recommendation adopted by the European Commission on 13 May 2020 relating to the issuing of travel vouchers as an alternative to cash reimbursement for consumers.

Further information:

This Recommendation concerns vouchers that carriers or organisers may propose to passengers or travellers, as an alternative to reimbursement in money, and subject to the passenger’s or traveller’s voluntary acceptance, in the following circumstances:

• in the event of a cancellation by the carrier or organiser made as from 1 March 2020 for reasons linked to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic;
• in the event of changes to the contract or terminations, taking place from 1 March 2020 for reasons linked to the pandemic.

The document was published as part of a package of initiatives, spearheaded by an umbrella Communication.

• Primary Source

News

Reuters, 09/05/2020: EU Commission calls for state guarantees for vouchers for cancelled travel https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N2CR04S

EurActiv, 13/05/2020: EU to preserve refund safety-net for travel vouchers https://www.euractiv.com/section/transport/news/eu-to-preserve-refund-safety-net-for-travel-vouchers/

The Irish Times, 13/05/2020: Airlines must refund passengers for cancelled flights, EU says https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/airlines-must-refund-passengers-for-cancelled-flights-eu-says-1.4252365

Euronews, 13/05/2020: Coronavirus: EU governments urged to do more for cancelled flight refunds https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/13/coronavirus-eu-governments-urged-to-do-more-for-cancelled-flight-refunds

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Official

European Commission: COVID-19: Recommendation on vouchers offered to passengers and travellers as an alternative to reimbursement for cancelled package travel and transport services https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/covid-19-recommendation-vouchers-offered-passengers-and-travellers-alternative-reimbursement-cancelled-package-travel-and-transport-services_en

BEUC: Press Release, 13/05/2020: European travellers set to retain right to choose between either reimbursement or a voucher http://www.beuc.eu/publications/european-travellers-set-retain-right-choose-between-either-reimbursement-or-voucher/html

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