Passenger Numbers Are Still Grounded

EU Countries See a 3.9 Million Passengers Stranded at Airports in Summer 2023

A report from the European Passengers' Rights Organisation (EPO) in September 2023 found that the number of people stuck at airports in the summer of 2023 was 3.9 million or 12% higher than the previous year.

Airlines and airports across the region were forced to cancel over 560,000 flights between July and August this year, a 6% increase compared to 2022. Over 1.3 million people were also delayed for over three hours.

The report found that the situation was particularly bad in the United Kingdom, where 610,000 passengers were stranded at airports, followed by Germany (570,000) and Spain (430,000).

The EPO blamed the disruption on a number of factors, including staff shortages, strikes, and bad weather, and criticised the way that airlines are handling the compensation claims made by frustrated customers.

The report said that airlines are often refusing to pay compensation, or are offering vouchers instead of cash. It also found that many airlines are not providing clear information to passengers about their rights.

The EPO is calling on the European Union to take action to improve the situation, such as introducing new legislation to strengthen passengers' rights.