A strike can disrupt an airline's schedule within hours, leaving passengers with cancelled flights, limited information and difficult travel arrangements. But a strike does not automatically mean you loseĀ your right to Flight Cancellation Compensation. Under EU passenger-rights rules, the key questions are what type of strike caused the cancellation and whether it qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance.
Does an airline strike qualify as an extraordinary circumstance?
Not every strike is treated the same way under EU261. The distinction between an airline's own employees and external workers can make a significant difference to a compensation claim.
Strikes involving air traffic controllers or airport staff may qualify as extraordinary circumstances because they are generally outside the airline's control. However, the airline must still show that the strike caused the cancellation and that reasonable measures could not have prevented the disruption.
The position is different when the strike involves the airline's own employees. Industrial action by pilots, cabin crew or other airline staff is generally considered part of the carrier's normal operations, particularly when the dispute concerns employment conditions such as pay or working conditions. In these situations, the airline may still owe compensation if the other EU261 requirements are satisfied.
When can you claim compensation after a strike cancellation?
The type of strike is only one part of the eligibility test. You should also consider when the airline informed you about the cancellation and what alternative travel arrangements it offered.
If you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, compensation may be due unless the airline provided qualifying rerouting within the EU261 time limits. The rules also depend on whether your flight departed from an EU airport or arrived in the EU from outside the EU on an EU airline.
Keep your cancellation email, booking confirmation, boarding pass and any messages about alternative flights. These documents can help establish when you were notified and what the airline offered.
How much flight cancellation compensation can you receive?
EU261 compensation is generally based on the distance of the flight rather than the ticket price:
- Flights up to 1,500 km: ā¬250
- EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km: ā¬400
- Flights over 3,500 km: ā¬600
The amount can be reduced by 50% if qualifying rerouting gets you to your final destination within two, three or four hours of the original arrival time, depending on the flight distance.
Compensation is separate from your right to care. During a qualifying disruption, the airline may have to provide meals and refreshments and, when an overnight stay is necessary, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
What if the airline rejects your claim?
An airline may reject a compensation request by arguing that the strike was an extraordinary circumstance. That does not necessarily end the matter. Ask the airline to explain the reason for the rejection and keep any response it provides.
If you are unsure whether the strike was internal or external, investigating the circumstances can be difficult because cancellation notices do not always provide enough detail.Ā LennuabiĀ can help assess the circumstances behind a cancelled flight, determine whether the airline's explanation is supported by the available facts, and handle the compensation claim with the airline on your behalf.
Don't assume a strike means no compensation
A strike-related cancellation is not automatically a compensation-free situation. If you believe you may qualify forĀ Flight Cancellation Compensation, check who was striking, when you were informed, what rerouting was offered and what reason the airline gave for the cancellation. Keeping the relevant travel documents can make it easier to determine whether you have a valid claim.
