Weather-related flight cancellations in winter: reimbursement of travel costs in the event of force majeure?

Weather-related flight cancellations in winter: reimbursement of travel costs in the event of force majeure?

According to a report by www.merkur.de,

As an economist, I would like to analyze the impact of weather-related flight cancellations on the market and consumers. The article explains that airlines may cancel flights due to extreme weather conditions such as blizzards, storms and fog. The EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation exempts airlines from paying compensation in such cases. This means that passengers can be stuck with their travel costs due to force majeure.

The possible effects of this practice are diverse. For the airlines, the exemption from compensation payments leads to cost savings. This can improve their profitability and strengthen their competitiveness in the long term. However, negative customer experiences could lead to a loss of image, which has a long-term impact on brand perception. For consumers, weather-related flight cancellations mean uncertainty and potential financial loss. It can also lead to frustration and dissatisfaction, especially if other airlines continue to fly in similar weather conditions.

To mitigate these impacts, airlines should be transparent and customer-focused. You could offer alternative solutions such as free rebookings or refunds to increase customer trust. For their part, consumers could consider travel cancellation insurance to protect themselves against the financial risks of flight cancellations.

Overall, it is important that both airlines and consumers carefully consider the impact of weather-related flight cancellations on the market and personal finances.