Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has been appointed chief negotiator for new EU laws aimed at strengthening passenger rights for Irish holidaymakers, particularly regarding package holidays and travel disruptions.
Key changes Ms Ní Mhurchú is demanding include limiting upfront deposits for package holidays to 25pc of the total price, requiring operators to communicate payment timelines, and ensuring better information about liability in case of cancellations.
The new regulations will also mandate that airlines transport companions of passengers with disabilities free of charge and ideally seat them together, aligning air travel rights with those already established for other transport modes.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú shared “The new laws will look to bolster insolvency protection in the event of something like this happening again. Other new measures for package holiday bookings include that upfront deposits paid on package holidays cannot be more than 25pc of the overall package price, except in cases where a package tour operator can justify a higher deposit based on extenuating circumstances. Also under the proposals, package holiday operators may not ask for the total payment for the holiday earlier than 28 days before the start of the trip. Those travelling under a package holiday will also receive clearer information on who is liable if there are problems with a cancellation of one part of the package, and their rights in that situation. Airlines often oblige a passenger with disabilities to travel with a companion. This is because the passenger with a disability may need assistance to comply with aviation safety requirements. Under these new proposals, the airline will be obliged to transport the accompanying person free of charge, and when practical, seat this person next to the passenger they are assisting. This right already exists when travelling by rail, ship or bus.”
