IRU acknowledges the Council’s efforts to update the Package Travel Directive (PTD) with the removal of payment restrictions. However, concerns over unclear cancellation rules, vouchers and strict refund timelines remain, posing challenges for bus and coach operators and SMEs.
The Council of the European Union has adopted its general approach to revising the Package Travel Directive, a key regulation that governs pre-arranged holidays and linked travel services.
While the directive introduces positive measures to strengthen consumer protections and crisis management, it poses challenges for bus and coach operators, who play a vital role in Europe’s transport and tourism sectors.
What does the revised directive bring?
In the Council’s approach, the updated directive eliminates restrictions on down payments, enhances flexibility for vouchers, refines cancellation rules under unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances and expands the definition of what constitutes a package. These changes aim to build resilience across the travel value chain and protect passengers in times of disruption.
What does it mean for EU bus and coach industry?
Bus and coach operators, as central players in Europe’s sustainable and affordable travel ecosystem, face mixed outcomes from the revised directive.
While financial pressures are reduced by the removal of payment limitations, unclear criteria for extraordinary cancellations and the loss of discretion to issue vouchers during major disruptions significantly increase financial strain and legal uncertainties for package providers.
These developments come at a time when bus and coach services are critical to decarbonising EU transport, connecting communities, and supporting the tourism sector’s recovery.
The Council has adopted its positions on the Directive, with the European Parliament set to discuss its position in the first quarter of 2025.
IRU will continue advocating for a balanced approach that safeguards passengers while ensuring the sustainability of Europe’s bus and coach operators. Clear and fair rules are essential to maintaining their vital role in Europe’s transport ecosystem, which delivers affordable, accessible, and sustainable travel for millions across the EU.
Learn more about IRU’s position on the Package Travel Directive here.