Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, if a flight is cancelled – regardless of when passengers are notified of the cancellation – the air carrier must offer passengers the choice between:

• re-routing as close as possible to the original departure time;
• re-routing at a later date; or
• a refund of the cost of the unused flight ticket.

While the Department of Transport has overall responsibility for transport policy, including aviation, it is not within its remit to intervene in the operational matters of private commercial airlines or indeed to intervene in individual cases between passenger and airlines.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the designated National Enforcement Body (NEB) in relation to the enforcement of Regulation (EC) 261/2004 for flights departing Ireland or flights from a non-EEA country on an EU-licensed carrier to an Irish airport.

I have, therefore, forwarded this question to the IAA for direct reply. If a response is not received within ten days, please contact my private office.