Bomb threats continue at French airports, many flights cancelled

Bomb alerts and evacuations are continuing at French airports for a second day - we look at what recourse is available for passengers whose travel plans are disrupted.

17 airports went on alert and 15 were temporarily evacuated on Wednesday (October 18) resulting in cancelled flights and disrupted travel for many passengers.

Another bomb threat led to the evacuation of Montpellier airport on Thursday (October 19). The airport was closed at 11:00 with bomb disposal teams dispatched to investigate.

Read more: Multiple French airports evacuated over bomb threat call-ins

Fortunately, no bomb was found in Montpellier and the airport was open again by the afternoon.

The threats on Wednesday also proved to be hoaxes, but the disruption that they caused was very real: 130 flights were cancelled due to the alerts and evacuations, resulting in innumerable delays.

“These hoaxes are not just bad jokes. They are crimes. They will be punished,” tweeted Transport Minister Clément Beaune.

What can passengers do about their cancelled flights?

Affected passengers may want three things: compensation for their disrupted onward travel, a refund for the cancelled tickets, or simply to find a place to stay while waiting for a new flight.

Compensation will prove difficult.

Unfortunately for passengers, bomb scares, as with all major security risks, are considered to be ‘extraordinary circumstances’ under both EU law and the 1999 Montreal convention governing airline liability.

“Obligations on operating air carriers should be limited or excluded in cases where an event… could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken,” according to Article 14 of the EU regulations concerning compensation and assistance to passengers.

Similar regulations on ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are likely to apply also to travel insurance, depending on the policy.

This means that in theory airlines and insurers do not have to compensate passengers for disrupted travel.

Refunds are possible.

Airlines have a duty of care for their passengers even when flights are cancelled due to ‘extraordinary circumstances.

This means that the airline must offer to refund the tickets of cancelled flights.

“Passengers whose flights are cancelled should be able either to obtain reimbursement of their tickets or to obtain re-routing under satisfactory conditions, and should be adequately cared for while awaiting a later flight,” according to Article 13 of the same EU regulations

Airlines should help people find a place to stay while waiting

The duty of care extends to ensuring that passengers are provided with hotel accommodation while waiting for a travel solution.

Airlines are not permitted to simply abandon their passengers.

Remind airlines of their duty of care

If you have been affected by a cancelled flight and want compensation, a refund or a place to stay it is important to contact the airline, insistently.

While airlines are sometimes forthcoming with assistance, they can appear unresponsive or dismissive of passengers’ concerns during periods of mass cancellations.

If they do not heed your requests, you should contact the Travel Mediation service, or a consumer association.

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