Budapest Government Office: Passengers must get refund or rebooking if flight is cancelled or seriously delayed

Written by BT/MTI

Airlines must provide full refunds to passengers if a flight is cancelled or allow the possibility of rebooking on the next available flight, the Metropolitan Government Office said in a statement Tuesday.

The office said it was stressing the importance of airlines complying with rules on flight delays and cancellations during the peak tourist season.

If a flight is cancelled and the passenger rebooks, the airline must provide food and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time and, if overnight accommodation is required, provide it as well as transfer to and from the airport, the statement said.

Unless the cancellation is caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control such as technical error, strike by airline employees, dangerous weather conditions, air traffic control decisions and collisions with flocks of birds, passengers are entitled to compensation of between 250 and 600 euros depending on the duration of the flight.

In the event of a delay of more than five hours, the airline will have to refund the price of the ticket if the passenger chooses this option, she added.

If the final destination is reached with a delay of more than 3 hours in the absence of force majeure, passengers should be offered compensation of between 250 and 600 euros.

Passengers can contact the Hungarian Consumer Protection Authority if their rights have been ignored by the airline, the statement said.