Since the first wave of flight cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the submission of arbitration requests for ticket refunds has kept the experts at the Agency for Passenger and Passenger Rights (APF) in suspense.

By the end of January 2021, apf had completed a total of 1.800 conciliation proceedings related to Corona 19 and in the course of this had obtained more than 1,1 million euros in reimbursements for those affected. Only nine proceedings have not yet been completed because the companies refuse to pay. Further legal steps would be examined here. The consulting agency also warns against booking with the tour operator. Because airlines have a legal obligation to cooperate in the procedures of the APF and would comply with this in the vast majority of cases. This is lacking on online booking platforms, for example. That would always lead to problems with the reimbursement of ticket costs. The APF therefore strongly advises passengers to book directly with the respective airline. 

“Basically, if a flight is canceled by the airline, affected passengers have the right to a refund of the full ticket price in accordance with the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation. If the company does not meet its obligation, a request for arbitration can be submitted to the APF - provided that the planned flight is within its area of ​​responsibility, "says Maria-Theresia Röhsler, Head of APF. The service for passengers is always free and commission-free - regardless of the outcome of the proceedings.