For almost a year, two Austrian Airlines passengers had to fight for their refunds. An intervention by the Vienna Chamber of Labor also did not result in the AUA giving in, so the matter ended up in court. Only then did the Lufthansa subsidiary pay back the money.

Background: Even before the corona pandemic, i.e. in February 2020, the plaintiff booked a flight from Vienna to New York and back for herself and her daughter. The flight was supposed to be in the summer of 2020. But in March 2020 an entry ban for EU citizens was imposed, which is still in force. Due to the loss of the business basis, the lady resigned from the contract and asked the AUA to reimburse the ticket price.

The airline saw the matter differently, arguing, among other things, that the flights were carried out. Ms. K. informed the company at the beginning of July by e-mail and registered letter and another e-mail in mid-July that she was withdrawing from the contract due to the discontinued business basis. At the same time, she asked for a refund of the amount paid of EUR 2.068,66.

At the end of August, the airline informed Ms. K. that a full reimbursement of the ticket costs was not possible because the flight was being carried out. In addition, she was informed that in this case only the taxes and fees of 69,33 euros per person could be reimbursed, which also happened. Ms. K. sought help in the AK. Even an out-of-court intervention by the AK was unsuccessful. Only after the AK brought a lawsuit did the company repay the ticket costs of 1.961,09 euros.