WRITTEN QUESTION E-4360/09 by Aldo Patriciello (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Collapse of SkyEurope

SkyEurope is an , founded in 2001 with Austrian capital, which describes itself on its website as Central Europe's largest low-cost airline, with bases in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, flying to 42 destinations in 19 European countries.

There had been signs of economic problems for months: by June, losses amounted to more than € 59 million and the Slovak company had repeatedly sought bridging finance to remedy its lack of liquidity.

Faced with insurmountable economic difficulties, on 1 September SkyEurope suddenly and unexpectedly suspended flights from and without any warning, and then proceeded to cancel all routes with immediate effect, with serious consequences for more than 1000 passengers scattered across the continent waiting to embark on flights; they have not only been refused reimbursement for the cancelled flights, but have also been forced to purchase tickets at their own expense from other (Wizzair, ), which have come to their rescue charging distress prices.

Those who have purchased flights with credit cards must contact their bank to obtain reimbursement for unused SkyEurope flights, while no reimbursement will be possible for payments made directly to SkyEurope by other means (i.e. bank transfer or cash).

Recalling that a similar situation occurred last July with the bankruptcy of Myair, and given that the promotes the rights, prosperity and well-being of consumers, its core values, through Community legislation and that EU membership therefore give us consumers additional protection, does the Commission not consider that it has a duty to set up a supranational supervisory body to provide consumer guarantees or at least create a guarantee fund to help passengers affected by airline collapses, in order to prevent similar situations happening again?

789269.EN PE 427.921