BT4Europe, the European Network of Business Travel Associations, welcomes the European Union’s efforts to strengthen air passenger rights through the revised Passenger Rights Package.
At the same time, BT4EUrope has formally raised concerns about one provision that could unintentionally shift financial liability to travel intermediaries for disruptions beyond their control.
The new passenger rights enforcement Regulation is a landmark legislative initiative designed to overhaul and strengthen the enforcement of air passenger rights across the European Union.
It establishes clearer rules for cancellations, delays, and lost luggage, while streamlining the compensation process.
Saltar al contenido del PDFBT4Europe supports these objectives and recognizes the importance of ensuring that air passengers receive timely refunds and effective assistance when air travel is disrupted.
However, BT4Europe believes that one element of the proposed agreement merits further consideration.
Under the proposed rules, travel intermediaries—including travel management companies, travel agencies and online booking platforms—could be required to reimburse their own booking or service fees when a journey is cancelled, even if they have fully delivered the contracted service and the cancellation was caused entirely by the transport operator or another third party.
Booking and service fees remunerate intermediaries for the professional services they provide, including itinerary planning, booking administration, traveler support, duty of care assistance and after-sales service. These services have already been delivered regardless of whether the transport provider subsequently cancels the journey.
BT4Europe believes that air passenger rights should be strengthened without creating an imbalance in the allocation of liability.
«Business travelers deserve strong passenger protection, and BT4Europe fully supports that objective. At the same time, responsibilities should remain with the party responsible for the disruption. Where intermediaries have fulfilled their contractual obligations, they should not be required to absorb costs resulting from events entirely outside their control. Fair passenger rights and fair liability must go hand in hand.» commented Patrick Diemer, Chair, BT4Europe
To ensure that the concerns of the business travel sector are formally recorded, BT4Europe has written to the European Parliament’s rapporteur and to the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
BT4Europe remains committed to working with European institutions and industry partners to ensure that passenger rights legislation delivers both stronger protection for travelers and a fair, proportionate allocation of responsibilities across the travel ecosystem.
