Summer is here, and so are the delays: we investigated how much help the new passenger rights regulations provide

Monday, Jul 6, 2026

Travel disruptions, highlighted by Thomas Cook’s collapse and COVID-19, prompt EU reforms to better protect travelers’ rights.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Travelers’ primary concern during peak travel times is simply reaching their destination, and having recourse for issues like delays or refunds. Past major disruptions, such as the collapse of Thomas Cook and the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted significant vulnerabilities regarding consumer rights, refund processes, and support when large travel companies fail or services are severely disrupted. Furthermore, even during normal operations, issues like service shortages and geopolitical crises cause problems. In response to these crises, the European Commission proposed passenger rights reforms in its package presented in November 2023, and the text indicates that further information is available regarding the status of these reforms for those planning travel this summer.


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