US authorities have pressured six airlines to refund more than $600 million to hundreds of thousands of passengers for canceled or changed flights, the US Department of Transportation announced.
For delaying, Frontier, Air India, TAP Portugal, Aeroméxico, El Al and Avianca were also fined a total of $7.25 million, the ministry added in a statement issued Monday night.
Obligation to return
“Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry has received a deluge of traveler complaints related to the refusal of airlines to provide timely refunds after their flights were canceled or significantly altered,” he says.
However, for any flight to or from the United States that is canceled or significantly changed, US law requires airlines to refund passengers if they do not want a coupon or credit for future flights.
“A flight cancellation is frustrating enough, no one should have to haggle or wait months for a refund,” Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg said in the statement.
Source: BFM TV
