Airlines Could Be Forced to Refund Travellers for Delayed Flights: White Paper

Australian travellers will find it easier to get cash compensation in time when their flights are cancelled or delayed.

On Aug. 26, the Albanese government released its Aviation White Paper, which examined policies to “promote efficiency, safety, sustainability, and competitiveness of the aviation sector out to 2050.”
Transport Minister Catherine King said it was time to protect consumer rights as the Australian traveller number recovers to its pre-COVID-19 level.

“Too many Australians have been left out to dry when flights are cancelled or disrupted and it’s impossibly complex to get a refund or even contact a company representative,” she said. “Customers deserve their money back if they are owed it.”

According to a report by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics, in 2023, about one-third of flights failed to leave on time, while 3.7 percent, or about 16,000, were cancelled.

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