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01/09/25 ECTAA, WTAAA and travel companies call for change to No Show Rule application
Currently, these rules require travel intermediaries, when a passenger decides not to travel, not only to cancel the booking (which immediately frees the seat for resale) but also to process the refund before the flight’s departure. If this is not done, penalties are applied.
Refunding, however, is a separate process from cancelling a booking. In practice, it is often not feasible before departure (e.g. on weekends) or extremely burdensome when many passengers are affected. Crucially, refunding at a later stage has no negative impact on airlines.
ECTAA, WTAAA and their partners have therefore jointly called on airlines applying these rules to bring their practices in line with established industry standards.
ECTAA and WTAAA will continue to closely monitor developments on this issue in the coming weeks.
For more information, please contact: secretariat@ectaa.org
The European travel and tourism industry expresses its deep concern over the European Commission’s recent proposal to increase the ETIAS travel authorisation fee from €7 to €20 per application, nearly a threefold increase compared to the original amount agreed in 2018. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to become operational in late 2026, will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain an online authorisation before entering the EU and pay a fee prior to travelling to the Schengen Area.
One year after adopting the Rhodes Declaration, Europe’s leading tourism and travel organisations are gathering in Gothenburg to renew and strengthen their shared commitment to sustainability and climate resilience. From 7 to 9 July, the 2025 edition of the Rhodes Forum brings together key European stakeholders to assess progress, exchange best practices, and accelerate efforts to decarbonise both leisure and business travel and tourism. Special emphasis is placed on empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and supporting the industry to achieve the green transition. The event is complemented by site visits and engagement with local partners, including the iconic Liseberg Park, offering real-world insights into sustainable tourism in action.