Because of the Covid-19 crisis there is a move to lessen the consumer protection rights of European citizens in favour of the airline industry. Currently citizens have the right to a full refund for cancelled flights, however, there is move to replace this refund with vouchers for future flights with the same company. This is a backward step in consumer protection for European citizens, and the financial interests of companies and businesses should not be prioritized over that of the citizen. Companies and businesses can be aided without consumer protection being lessened.

In this crisis companies and businesses need help, but that help should not be at the expense of hard won consumer protection regulations. Once lost it will hard to reclaim such rights, so I believe it is important that the relevant European bodies be made aware of the importance of preserving the integrity of consumer protection laws in Europe.