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What are your rights as a passenger in the event of an aviation strike?
If your flight was delayed or cancelled due to a work stoppage caused by airline workers (eg. flight attendants, pilots), you might be entitled to flight compensation. Under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, also known as EU261, passengers have the right to flight compensation under the following circumstances:
- A delayed flight of three or more hours
- A cancelled flight announced fewer than 14 days prior to the departure date
- In case of an unjustified denied boarding
However, the regulation also defines exceptions, so-called extraordinary circumstances, under which passengers are not entitled to compensation. If the strike was not caused by the airline’s employees (eg. baggage handlers), you are likely not eligible for compensation. Therefore, it is important to know exactly who is striking.
Get the help you need to receive flight compensation!
The different types of strikes in the aviation industry
The European and British regulations protect your rights to a certain extent. Depending on who is striking, you might or might not be eligible for flight compensation.
The most common types of strikes or industrial actions are the following:
| Type of Strike | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Airline's Pilot Strike | YES |
| Airline's Staff Strike | YES |
| Air Traffic Control Strike | NO |
| Airport Staff Strike | NO |
| Baggage Handlers and Ground Staff Strike | NO |
* Depending on the country of departure and nationality of the airline.
Delayed or cancelled flight due to an airline industrial action?
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Airline strike: get compensation for your cancelled or delayed flight!
If the airline’s staff has organised the industrial action in question, then you might be entitled to compensation up to €600 as both the British and EU laws state.
Delayed flight due to an airline work stoppage: get flight compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours due to a protest of your airline’s employees, you are entitled to flight compensation.
Cancelled flight because of an airline strike: get flight compensation and a full refund!
If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure because of a strike of your airline’s staff, you can claim flight compensation up to €600 according to the British and EU regulations (see table below).
You can also ask for a full refund of your flight ticket if:
- The airline did not offer you an alternative flight
- The airline offered an alternative flight but you decided not to take it
What is the amount of flight compensation in the event of a delayed flight?
The flight compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight.
| Distance of your flight | Compensation according to UK261/EU261 |
|---|---|
| Flights shorter than 1,500 km | €250 per passenger |
| Flight between 1,500 and 3,500 km | €400 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres within the EU | €400 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres outside of the EU | €600 per passenger |
Industrial action involving parties other than the airline: claim your right to care!
It is important to note that strikes are not always involving the airline staff or pilots. Some industrial actions, or walkouts, are involving other parties such as air traffic controllers or ground personnel.
In these situations, we would refer to the extraordinary circumstances as the airline is not the party at fault for the delay or cancellation. Therefore, you wouldn’t be entitled to flight compensation.
However, while you may not be entitled to financial compensation, your airline is obliged to provide care in the case of severe delays. Care often includes:
- food & drinks
- phone calls
- overnight accommodation
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Unsure of who is responsible for the strike?
Sometimes your flight can be delayed or cancelled and the only information you have is “due to a strike”. If you don’t know if the strike was from the airline or another party, you can submit your claim with us!
Our experts will have a look at your claim and check who was at fault. If our analysis shows that the problems were caused by the work stoppage of the airport staff, we will close your file free of charge. We work on a “no win, no fee” basis, which means that we only charge fees for our service if you get your money from the airline.
How to claim flight compensation and flight refund?
Claim with Flight-Delayed.com — this is the safest and easiest way to claim flight compensation and refund and maximise your chances of success!
To make sure your claim is complete, upload all the necessary documents to our platform: this only takes up to 5 minutes. Our legal team will then assess your claim, prepare legal documentation, contact the airline's decision-makers, and, if necessary, take your claim to court.
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