The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is calling on the government for more powers to deal with airlines that do not refund passengers promptly, according to reports.
Under European Union law, refunds should be paid within seven days, but many are still waiting. At the height of the pandemic more than £7 billion was owed in refunds to passengers, according to a report in The Times.
The newspaper says that Richard Moriarty, chief executive of CAA, is urging the government to give the regulator greater powers including the ability to fine airlines, “a move that would be likely to prompt carriers to treat customers”.
The Times report said his remarks come in the wake of the CAA’s official review into the handling of refunds by airlines during the coronavirus pandemic. It found that passengers were being made to wait up to four months for refunds.
“We have consistently faced problems with a restricted set of enforcement powers,” Moriarty said.
He told the newspaper he would like to see the body given powers to issue fines and the ability to disqualify people from acting as company directors where they have repeatedly broken consumer law.
Moriarty said: “Stronger powers, less reliant on slow court action, would help us to swiftly apply the most appropriate and effective sanctions where possible.”