Airline KLM has to pay a fine of more than 40,000 euros, because it does not refund canceled tickets booked through the now bankrupt D-Reizen to passengers. That is what the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has on Tuesday announced† KLM must also adjust information on the website within a month.
ILT is based on the European regulation on passenger rights. These regulations state that air passengers are entitled to a refund or a rebooking when flights are cancelled. KLM offers passengers who have booked a flight ticket through intermediaries such as D-Reizen no choice, according to ILT. According to the inspection, these passengers are consistently referred back to intermediaries.
Also read: The former owners of the bankrupt D-reizen tell their story: “We were on schedule. That’s the sour’
In addition to KLM, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines were also fined EUR 11,800 and EUR 22,400 respectively. The three airlines state that they have previously refunded the canceled tickets to D-Reizen. But the inspectorate states that airlines are responsible for refunds to injured passengers.
Apart from the fine of just over 40,000 euros, KLM will have one month to adjust information on its website. For example, passengers who have booked a ticket through an intermediary must still be given the choice of a refund within seven days or a new ticket. If this does not happen, the Inspectorate can impose an additional fine of up to 500,000 euros.