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Package travel – review of EU rules

Consumers

As announced in its new consumer agenda of November 2020 and building on the 2021 report on the package travel Directive, the Commission will carry out by 2022 a deeper analysis into whether current EU rules, including the insolvency protection, ensure robust and comprehensive consumer protection at all times. The analysis will take into account the envisaged action in the sustainable and smart mobility strategy to protect passengers’ rights.

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Public consultation

ID: 13117

Lobbying Activity

49 responses

Consultation response

SMEunited aisbl, 17 Sept 2021

Please find attached the feedback of SMEunited.

Insurance Europe warns against mandatory insurance for travel organisers

Insurance Europe, 12 Mar 2024

Insurance Europe opposes mandatory insurance requirements and calls for the removal of retailer insurance provisions. They urge strict limits on pre-payments and want organisers to have clear redress rights from third parties.
Avoiding mandatory coverage protects insurers from being forced to underwrite uninsurable systemic risks.
Travellers would suffer from higher holiday prices if mandatory insurance requirements are imposed.

Consultation response

Mastercard Europe, 16 Sept 2021

Response to Commission’s Roadmap/Impact Assessment on the Packaged Travel Directive The travel industry represents a clear example of how the pandemic has radically altered the landscape and expectations of all stakeholders of the ecosystem, such as travel agencies, airlines and, of course,…

German insurers back travel payment caps but demand risk limits

Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V., 21 Feb 2024

The GDV supports capping advance payments but wants exemptions strictly limited to objectively necessary cases. They call for restrictive definitions of insolvency protection to ensure risks remain calculable.
Clearer rules on voucher validity and refund scopes prevent unpredictable insurance payouts and costs.
Travel organisers may struggle with liquidity if they cannot easily defer customer reimbursements.

Booking.com warns new travel rules reduce consumer flexibility

Booking.com B.V., 13 Mar 2024

Booking.com opposes the proposed expansion of the package travel definition, arguing it limits consumer choice. They believe travelers should still be able to book standalone services with flexible terms.
This allows the company to avoid heavy administrative burdens and legal liability for individual service providers.
Consumers lose privacy as companies would be forced to track their behavior to identify package bookings.

IATA fights EU plan to limit travel downpayments

International Air Transport Association, 13 Mar 2024

IATA rejects proposed caps on downpayments and opposes making travel vouchers automatically refundable or transferable. They argue these changes would disrupt established business models and reduce the availability of low-cost flights.
This protects airlines' liquidity and allows them to continue offering lower fares for upfront payments.
Passengers lose out on potential refund automation and flexible voucher options that would improve their rights.

Consultation response

eu travel tech, 5 Mar 2024

eu travel tech recommendations: 1. Levelling the Playing Field for Consumer Protection: It is imperative that negotiators prioritise harmonising consumer protections across all aspects of travel, ensuring that standalone services, such as flights, are subject to similar mandatory insolvency…

Consultation response

eu travel tech, 17 Sept 2021

The Package Travel Directive (“PTD”) has now been applied since 2018 and these last three years have allowed for a “stress test” of its provisions in light of its objectives: the proper functioning of the internal market and a high level of consumer protection in the area of package travel. It is…

Consultation response

Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband, 16 Sept 2021

vzbv welcomes the Commission's approach that the aim must be to strengthen consumer protection - not to reduce it. Consumers need special protection, especially in times of crisis. The following is a list of aspects that we believe are particularly urgent for evaluation and improvement…

FIA European Bureau urges simplified travel rules and insolvency protection

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, 13 Mar 2024

The organization recommends simplifying travel definitions and limiting advance payments to protect consumers. They urge extending bankruptcy protection to single tickets and providing environmental impact details.
These changes would reduce financial uncertainty and complexity for their motorist membership.
Airlines and service providers would lose access to upfront cash from operators.

Consultation response

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, 15 Sept 2021

The FIA European Bureau welcomes the review of the PTD, with a view to increase the level of consumer protection, especially under extraordinary circumstances. These are the aspects that, in our opinion, deserve being reviewed: Raising awareness of travelers’ rights The 2020 Eurobarometer showed…

Finnish SMEs reject EU limits on package travel payments

Suomen Yrittäjät ry, 12 Jan 2024

The group opposes limiting upfront payments and wants to stop increasing information requirements. They also reject expanding the right to cancel travel for free.
This would protect the financial liquidity of small operators and reduce administrative burdens.
Consumers lose access to expanded refund rights and more detailed pre-sale information.

Danish Shipping urges flexibility to avoid maritime administrative burdens

Danish Shipping, 10 Jan 2024

Danish Shipping recommends flexibility in quality and reporting systems to avoid high costs. They caution against new maritime regulations that overlap with existing passenger laws.
This would protect maritime companies from significant new administrative and economic costs.
Consumers lose the benefit of a standardized format for compensation and reimbursement.

ECTAA warns package travel rules threaten industry liquidity

ECTAA, Group of National Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations within the EU, 12 Mar 2024

ECTAA opposes restrictions on advance payments and argues that revised definitions are overly complex and impractical. They insist package tour operators should not be treated as insurers for cancellations.
Maintaining current payment structures preserves business liquidity and prevents insurance costs rising.
Vulnerable consumers lose access to flexible payment plans and face higher holiday prices.

TUI Warns EU Regulation Could Jeopardise Package Holiday Competitiveness

TUI AG, 13 Mar 2024

TUI opposes any regulatory limits on customer pre-payments and seeks clearer definitions. They also demand that operators not be responsible for events at a traveler's home.
Maintaining current pre-payment levels protects company liquidity and avoids high external financing costs.
Consumers lose expanded protections against home-based travel disruptions and face less certain refund timelines.

easyJet urges EU to narrow package definition and scrap linked travel protections

easyJet, 13 Mar 2024

easyJet requests that the package definition not be extended to include services booked in 3-hour or 24-hour windows, and that Linked Travel Arrangements be removed from the Directive entirely. They argue the current rules work well and proposed changes create unnecessary complexity and costs.
This would avoid substantial increases in due diligence, insurance, and compliance costs that would be passed to consumers.
Consumers lose choice and face higher prices as organisers limit service offerings or pass on increased compliance costs.

ADAC Urges Stronger Insolvency Protection for Holiday Rentals

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e.V., 1 Mar 2024

ADAC calls for closing protection gaps in holiday rentals and broadening package travel definitions. They also propose a twenty percent cap on advance payments for travelers.
Stronger protection reduces financial risks for ADAC's twenty-one million club members.
Travel organizers would lose access to high upfront deposits from customers.

Consultation response

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e.V., 15 Sept 2021

Currently representing over 21 million members, ADAC is the largest automobile club in Eu-rope and the second-largest in the world. As a recognized consumer protection organisation, ADAC focuses on road traffic, consumer rights, road safety and road safety education. The ADAC welcomes the review of…

Regional airlines urge EU to sanction negligent travel agents

European Regions Airline Association Ltd., 12 Mar 2024

The association wants strict data sharing for intermediaries and clear refund deadlines. They reject airline liability for agent failures and oppose limiting package downpayments to twenty-five percent.
Avoiding these rules prevents double payments and reduces administrative burdens for smaller carriers.
Passengers may face higher ticket prices as airlines recoup costs from free companion seats.

Austrian Labour Chamber urges ban on travel prepayments

Bundesarbeitskammer Österreich, 13 Mar 2024

The organization proposes a total ban on travel prepayments to safeguard consumers. They also advocate for harmonized minimum fines for companies based on their annual turnover.
This shields consumers from financial loss if a travel company becomes insolvent.
Travel organizers may face liquidity issues if they cannot collect payments early.

Expedia Group urges fairer refund rules for package travel organisers

Expedia Group, 7 Mar 2024

The group requests aligning cancellation rights and calls for ringfencing flight costs via escrow.
Sharing refund burdens with airlines would reduce financial strain and help prevent price increases.
Airlines would lose their ability to avoid refund obligations when flights are not cancelled.

CNA supports package travel updates but seeks insolvency safeguards

Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato e della Piccola e Media Impresa, 29 Jan 2024

CNA supports extending protections to personalized packages and online services to ensure legal certainty. They request that insolvency protections cover external factors beyond the organizer's control to avoid unrecoverable costs.
Clearer definitions of extraordinary circumstances would prevent organizers from bearing costs for subjective cancellations.
Travelers may lose flexibility as cancellations would require objective proof rather than personal perception.

European Passengers' Federation Urges Stronger Enforcement of Travel Rights

European Passengers' Federation, 8 Mar 2024

EPF calls for National Enforcement Bodies and better individual redress options for customers. They request alignment with airline rules to provide consistent protection against carrier insolvency.
Passengers would face lower financial risks through capped downpayments and guaranteed voucher refunds.
Travel organizers lose cash flow flexibility due to stricter limits on passenger downpayments.

Consultation response

Visita, 13 Mar 2024

Förslag till nya EU-regler för paketresor: Visita är starkt kritiskt till förslaget att begränsa förskottsbetalningar till 25 procent för paketresor och sammanlänkade researrangemang Visita anser att förutsättningarna för undantag från begränsningen av förskottsbetalning måste utvecklas tydligare…

Czech Chamber of Commerce slams proposed EU package travel rules

Hospodářská komora České republiky, 8 Mar 2024

The organization opposes capping traveler pre-payments and expanding cancellation rights for extraordinary events. They also advocate for the unilateral issuance of vouchers during global force majeure situations.
Maintaining current deposit rules prevents financial instability and insolvency for smaller travel agencies.
Travelers would lose the right to free cancellations during unpredictable global crises.

Consultation response

European Holiday Home Association, 16 Sept 2021

The European Holiday Home Association (EHHA) which is a united voice for short-term rentals, supports the Commission’s further work on the application of the Directive 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements (“Package Travel Directive”) and provides its comments to the…

Consultation response

Deutscher Reiseverband e.V., 13 Mar 2024

Please see the attachment

Consultation response

Malta Business Foundation, 15 Sept 2021

An overhaul of the Package Travel Directive is required because of the blurred lines between the Package Travel Directive and the difficulty in implementing and enforcing the rules of the Linked Travel Arrangements which were supposed to reflect the onset of digital markets. The industry is being…

Consultation response

Fédération Française d'Equitation, 6 Mar 2024

Please see the attachment.

Consultation response

Fédération Française d'Equitation, 17 Sept 2021

Please find attached the feedback of the French Equestrian Federation.

Consultation response

Koninklijke Nederlandse Toeristenbond ANWB, 12 Mar 2024

ANWB is positive about the proposal for a new package travel directive. Consumers will benefit. However, there is still too little consistency between the rules on package travel and those on single transport tickets. For example, the traveller with a single ticket is still in danger of being left…

Consultation response

Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club, 13 Mar 2024

Zusammenfassung unserer Stellungnahme Die raschen Bemühungen der Kommission zur weiteren Verbesserung des Schutzes von Reisenden, die Vereinfachung und Klarstellung mancher Definitionen und das zeitnahe Einarbeiten von Verbesserungen nach den Erfahrungen aus den letzten Krisen diese Lebensbereiche…

Consultation response

Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club, 27 Aug 2021

Thank you for providing the possibility to give feedback! Please find it herafter: - Die Informationspflichten gem Art 5 der PR-RL u die Definitionen nach Art 3 der RL sollten klarer/weniger missverständlich gefasst werden. Es muss für den Konsumenten, die Kundin klar sein, wer der…

Adigital warns new travel rules burden digital tour organizers

Asociación Española de Economia Digital, 8 Mar 2024

Adigital calls for a balance between consumer rights and sustainable business operations. They oppose prepayment limits and the expanded package definition, arguing these increase administrative burdens. They also demand alignment with air passenger regulations.
This would reduce their administrative costs and maintain necessary business liquidity.
Consumers face higher prices as smaller organizers struggle with new entry barriers.

Consultation response

Etrawler Unlimited Company, 13 Mar 2024

CarTrawler is the leading B2B technology provider of car rental solutions to the global travel industry and employs over 400 people almost all of whom are based in Ireland. We operate a three-sided online marketplace whereby our platform enables airlines and other partners to offer car rental to…

Consultation response

Luxair, 11 Mar 2024

Dear Colleagues of the Commission and DG MOVE. Here are the comments of Luxair S.A. regarding the revision of the PTD Directive EU2015/2305. You will find all our comments in the file attached.

Consultation response

Svenska Flygbranschen, 13 Mar 2024

The Swedish Aviation Industry Group hereby submit comments on the consultation of the Package Travel Directive. Please see attachment. Yours truly, Fredrik Kämpfe Director Industry Affairs Swedish Aviation Group

Consultation response

Deutscher Ferienhausverband, 13 Mar 2024

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Deutscher Ferienhausverband/German Holiday Home Association DFV backs the statement given by Aktionsbündnis Tourismusvielfalt. Ive included a copy of the statement. Kind regards Michelle Schwefel

Consultation response

The Finnish Hospitality Association (Matkailu- ja Ravintolapalvelut MaRa ry), 13 Mar 2024

Matkailu- ja Ravintolapalvelut MaRa ry the Finnish Hospitality Association (MaRa) is a leading national trade and labour market association in the hospitality industry in Finland. It represents a wide range of companies in hospitality sector for example hotels and other accommodation services and…

Consultation response

Sunscreen BidCo B.V., 12 Mar 2024

The two purposes of the PTD are to improve consumer rights and the internal market. One important tool is the obligation for organisers to secure customer payments against insolvency. This proposal and the covid-19 pandemic further emphasize the importance of insolvency protection. Sunweb Group…

Consultation response

ABTA - The Travel Association, 12 Mar 2024

ABTA welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the European Commissions review of the Package Travel Directive (PTD). Six years after the adoption of the Regulations, and with the industry having gone through the greatest crisis that it has ever faced in the pandemic, ABTA acknowledges that…

Consultation response

Fédération Internationale de Tourisme Equestre, 6 Mar 2024

Please see the attachment.

Consultation response

Hoge Raad voor de Zelfstandigen en de KMO / Conseil Supérieur des Indépendants et des PME, 20 Feb 2024

Le Conseil Supérieur des indépendants et des PME estime que la proposition de révision de la directive 2015/2302 relative aux voyages à forfait et aux prestations de voyage liées ne répond pas suffisamment aux difficultés auxquelles sont confrontées les organisateurs et les détaillants et risquent…

Portuguese Consumer Group DECO Calls for Stronger Travel Rights

Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor, 1 Feb 2024

DECO requests that the directive covers individual travel services and strengthens accountability for linked bookings. They advocate for harmonized financial sanctions and the right to cancel trips during personal medical emergencies.
Travelers would secure more transparent contracts and faster, guaranteed refunds when operators fail.
Travel organizers would face stricter penalties and restricted control over customer prepayments.

Consultation response

Vlara, 16 Jan 2024

Een positieve evolutie maar het feit dat de airlines en andere vervoersmiddelen binnen een pakketreis geen insolventieverzekering dienen te ondertekenen zal het altijd leiden tot problemen voor de organisator. µ De B2B verplichtingen moeten uitgebreid worden . Ook het verschil tussen de landen…

Consultation response

Deutscher Ferienhausverband, 17 Sept 2021

Krisenfall Corona Die Package Travel Directive (PTD), so wertvoll sie als Verbraucherschutzinstrument ist, ist nicht darauf ausgelegt, eine globale Katastrophe wie eine Pandemie angemessen zu adressieren. Der komplette und anhaltende Zusammenbruch des Reisemarktes weltweit stellt eine noch nie…

Consultation response

Vereniging Vlaamse Reisbureaus, 17 Sept 2021

In annex you'll find the feedback from VVR and UPAV In general, the following objectives should be pursued: - Administrative simplification - Force majeure must be properly defined and accepted and the organizer’s responsibility limited in this respect - Reimbursement period must be aligned for the…

Consultation response

Fédération Internationale de Tourisme Equestre, 17 Sept 2021

Please find attached the feedback of the International Federation of Equestrian Tourism.

Consultation response

Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor, 16 Sept 2021

DECO considers that the current Directive needs to be reviewed in view of addressing several shortcomings, and that the evaluation including a thorough assessment of whether the original objectives of the Directive are still fit for purpose as when the Directive was first proposed is absolutely key…