New EU rules stipulate that passengers must get refunds in 14 days for cancelled flights

During the covid-19 pandemic, the EC says, passengers were subjected to "mass cancellations" of flights and package holidays, and were exposed to the resulting liquidity problems of travel operators. The commission says the new rules are built upon “lessons learned” during the pandemic, and events such as the bankruptcy of travel firm Thomas Cook. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Passengers whose flights get cancelled will have to be given a refund within two weeks, under new rules officially adopted by the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday.

The refund rules form part of a series of new EC proposals aimed at strengthening the rights of passengers.