Originally Posted by
Often1
Both EC 261/2004 and US DOT rules protect covered passengers every day and have since 2005 and 2001 respectively. It is not just about Covid-19, but about routine issues which affect passenger flights on a regular basis. This is hardly an outlandish pair of rules on this particular point. If the flight is paid for and the carrier cancels it, one deserves one's money back. Not about fault or right/wrong. Simply about refunding what was paid for and not delivered.
And that isn't an issue 99% of the time in NZ. AirNZ when there isn't a 1 in 100+ year pandemic refunds flights when they cancel. As those events are within AirNZ's control so T&C's cover it.
So NZ doesn't need a law to cover a problem which doesn't exist in NZ. The day to day problems which DOT and EU261 are designed to address, is not a day to day problem in NZ.
Before SARS-CoV-2 came on the scene I can't think of a time when AirNZ didn't refund or put on an alternative flight.
So why does NZ this law to solve a 1 in 100+ year problem?