OTA drops airlines over refund delays
Online travel company eDreams ODIGEO has pulled 15 airlines from its platforms.
It has discontinued sales of tickets from airlines which have flouted EC regulation 261/04 relating to flight cancellation refunds.
EC 261/04 transferred into UK law post Brexit.
It states airlines are required to return customers’ money within seven days.
It says some some airlines are still taking months to process flight cancellation refund requests.
It hasn’t named the specific airlines but accuses them of consistent breaches of the regulations.
The company may add to it if other carriers continue to withhold customer refunds.
Brands eDreams, Opodo, GO Voyages and Travellink are advancing refunds to customers before airlines releases the funds for those that consistently comply, the OTA said.
“On an annualised basis, the company is already processing over €15 million in advanced refunds to customers.”
“The business has effectively reduced the average waiting period to just four days.”
“These practices in support of consumers go far beyond industry norms,” it added.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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