Thousands of connections had to be canceled this summer, mainly due to staff shortages at airports and airlines. The arbitration board had already received 2,593 applications in August, which was 215 percent more than in the same month last year.

In the event of trouble, travelers must always contact the company concerned with their concerns before a request for arbitration can be made. "The cases from the summer are now reaching us," reported SÖP Managing Director Sabine Cofalla. According to their assessment, the number of requests for arbitration in October could remain high and be around the level of September.

The SÖP is recognized by the federal government as an arbitration board for traffic and travel. For the most part, it is about compensation for delays or cancellations of flights and train journeys.

The practice that travelers have to pay for their flight tickets at the time of booking, often months in advance, has recently caused discussion. The state of Lower Saxony has submitted an application to the Bundesrat to abolish advance payment for air travel. Flight cancellations were almost always at the expense of the passengers. In the event of a cancellation, they would have to work hard and sometimes tediously to get a refund, argues the state government.

The industry rejects the move away from advance payment, which consumer advocates are also calling for. The industry association BDL argues, among other things, that with the money raised in advance, the airlines achieve greater planning security and can use the machines optimally, which is also positive for the climate. Customers could also benefit from early booking discounts.

Also read:

- Consumer Protection Minister demands: Stop paying in advance for trips

- Dispute over holiday refunds: "Travellers are paying for the fact that the state made a mistake"

- Despite the minimal number of flights: Record number of complaints to the Arbitration Board for Air Traffic