The National Civil Aviation Authority "is initiating investigations into airline sanctions for failure to comply with the EU Passenger Protection Regulation". This is stated in a note from the Authority which reminds that "in the event of flight cancellations for reasons not attributable to the Covid-19 emergency, the ticket will be refunded and a voucher will not be issued".
"As already anticipated with the communication sent to carriers operating in Italy on 18 June, with which ENAC called on companies to comply with EU Regulation No. 261 of 2004 which protects passengers in cases of delays, cancellations, overbooking and missed information, the National Civil Aviation Authority - reads the note - is initiating some investigations for the provision of sanctions against companies that have not applied the aforementioned Regulation ". "Despite the recall, in fact, from the first findings it would appear that some airlines continue to cancel flights, citing the Covid-19 emergency as a reason (cases envisaged in art. 88 bis of Law 24 April 2020, n. 27), and recognizing passengers only with a voucher ", explains ENAC.
"Given that the restrictions on the movement of natural persons within the national territory and in the European Schengen area, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have been removed as of 3 June, cancellations after that date - explains ENAC - would seem made by commercial and entrepreneurial choices of the carriers, not by reasons attributable to the emergency. The Community Regulation No. 261 of 2004, provides, in the cases of cancellation of flights for reasons not connected to the Covid-19 emergency, that the companies provide to passengers: the information; reprotection; reimbursement of the ticket price (not the payment of a voucher); compensation, where due ". "ENAC, therefore, is initiating investigations that will lead to the provision of sanctions against carriers in the event of an ascertained violation of the relevant Community Regulation", concludes the note.