The Finnish Consumer Agency has drawn attention to tour operators' obligation to tell customers the name of the carrier they will be using. It is especially important to inform customers if the carrier is a "black-listed" airline.
In February the Consumer Agency sent tour operators guidelines concerning the obligation to inform passengers of the identity of their air carrier and consumers' rights. The guidelines were sent to the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, which forwarded them to its members.
According to EC Regulation No 2111/2005, the tour operator must inform the passenger of the identity of the operating air carrier in a package tour. If the operating air carrier is changed after a reservation is made, the tour operator must ensure that the passenger is informed of the change as soon as possible. This obligation also applies to other air carriage contractors.
If an operating air carrier is on the list of airlines banned within the EU, consumers must be clearly informed of this in marketing, such as brochures and websites.
Such situations can arise when flights are made outside the Community.
In this case consumers can choose not to take the flight and have the right to reimbursement or re-routing under the Regulation.
The list of airlines banned within the EU is on the Commission's website at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban.