Flight Cancellation

What are my air passenger rights if my flight is cancelled?

Are you travelling by plane in the EU, Norway or Iceland and want to familiarise yourself with your air passenger rights? For example, what are you entitled to if something goes wrong? And where to direct your complaint if you have trouble dealing with the airline company? Get the answers to your questions here.

EU Regulation 261/2004

As an air passenger, you have certain rights if you flights gets cancelled. These rights are governed by EU Regulation 261/2004.

Air passenger rights in event of a flight cancellation

    Is your flight cancelled? Within the EU, the airline is obliged to offer you assistance. You can choose between rerouting or reimbursement and possibly you have a right to compensation too. Read on to learn more about your air passenger rights.

  • In the event of a flight cancellation, you are entitled to either a ticket refund, a return flight to the airport of departure or a replacement flight to your final destination (offered under comparable transport conditions). You should be offered a choice between these three options.

    If the airline company cancels your flight at the last minute, it has to offer you a flight to the same destination. If you have to wait for that flight, you are entitled to the following:

    • Free drinks and meals in fair proportion to the length of the delay
    • The opportunity to send 2 email, fax, or telex messages free of charge
    • Free hotel accommodation if you have to wait for the delayed flight for one or more nights
    • Free hotel accommodation if your stay needs to be extended due to the delay
    • Free transport from the airport to the hotel accommodation and back

    #rights-flight-cancellation

    Copied to clipboard!

  • According to European regulations, an airline cannot always be held responsible for a flight cancellation. In situations of force majeure — e.g. poor weather conditions, an unannounced air traffic control strike, or terrorism — you are not entitled to financial compensation.

    What if the aircraft has technical problems?

    According to the Court of Justice of the European Union, a technical problem with the aircraft is not an exceptional circumstance. If a flight is cancelled or delayed due to a technical problem, passengers are entitled to compensation. This applies to all technical problems that arise in the context of an airline’s normal activity.

    If the builder of the aircraft detects a manufacturing defect and the airline company cancels the flight as a result, the airline company will be exempt from paying compensation, but not from refunding the ticket or providing assistance.

    #force-majeur-flight-cancellation

    Copied to clipboard!

  • If your flight doesn’t get cancelled due to force majeure (which includes, among other things, poor weather conditions or an unannounced strike), the airline company is obliged to pay financial compensation in addition to reimbursement, re-routing or return and the right to 'care'.

    The following fees apply to flight cancellations:

    • €250 for flights up to and including 1,500 km
    • €400 for flights of more than 1,500 km within the EU
    • €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km outside the EU
    • €600 for flights of more than 3,500 km

    You are not entitled to compensation in the following situations:

    • You have been informed of the cancellation of your flight at least 2 weeks (14 days) before scheduled time of departure.
    • You have been informed of the cancellation between 2 weeks and 7 days before the scheduled time of departure and the alternative flight departs no more than 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure and reaches your final destination less than 4 hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
    • You are informed of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure and the alternative flight departs no more than one hour before the scheduled time and reaches your final destination less than 2 hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
    • The airline proves that the cancellation is due to exceptional circumstances (extraordinary events such as a volcanic eruption, floods, civil wars, or an earthquake).

    How to claim compensation?

    • Use our flight calculator to check the amount you are entitled to.
    • Make a list of unforeseen expenses, such as costs incurred for food and beverages, taxis, or hotel accommodation [optional].
    • Share your claim with the airline company in writing, via its website, or by email. If applicable, add the list of expenses and copies of receipts.
    • To ensure effective handling of individual claims airlines will be required to respond within a deadline of two months to passengers. Does it fail to respond? Or are you unable to resolve the dispute with the airline. In those cases, contact your local European Consumer Centre. Our legal specialists will check if your claim falls under the European rules for compensation and if you are eligible for (financial) compensation. Should your claim be justified, we will help you resolve the complaint. The European Consumer Centre’s services are provided free of charge.

    #compensation-for-flight-cancellation

    Copied to clipboard!

How can I quickly find out whether I can get compensation — and if so, how much?

Did your flight get cancelled and do you want to know if you are entitled to compensation? Use the flight calculator. Complete a few simple steps to discover whether you can get compensation — and if so, how much.

Where can I get assistance and advice?

The European Consumer Centres Network provides free legal advice and support on cross-border purchasing issues. It can also help consumers deal with disputes relating to travelling in the EU, Norway, and Iceland. If you have tried to resolve a dispute with a business to no avail, click here to contact your local ECC and submit an enquiry.

Need help finding information?

We can help you find the information you’re looking for

Which of these best describes your role?
What is the main reason for your visit?