Maintenance is a serious aspect for all airline companies. It is critical to ensure that employees provide proper service for each aircraft so that it operates perfectly. Yet, sometimes you may experience flight delays caused by maintenance problems. Such incidents result in different inconveniences for disappointed passengers, for sure. Luckily, according to EU261, delays caused by exceeding maintenance standards are subject to compensation.
Passenger Rights
According to EU Regulation 261, passengers delayed by more than three hours due to mechanical issues may be entitled to compensation. If the delay meets all legal conditions, the passenger has the right to:
- Right to Care: The airline company must provide food and beverages, 2 free phone calls, emails, or faxes; besides, the company is obliged to provide hotel accommodation and transfers if necessary due to a long wait;
- Right to Rerouting or Reimbursement: If the flight delay due to maintenance exceeds 5 hours, a passenger has the right to refuse the trip and get a full ticket price refund. At the same time, there is another option — you can choose an alternative route to your destination;
- Right to Compensation: A passenger has the right to reimbursement of up to €600 if the delay was not caused by any extraordinary circumstances.
Flight Delay due to Maintenance Compensation
The EU 261 regulation states that if your flight delayed due to mechanical issues, and you arrive at your destination 3+ hours later, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600. So, the compensation sum can vary. The amount of money you can get as a reimbursement depends on two factors: the flight distance and the delay duration. So, it’s crucial for you to know the exact time of your delay.
Check the table below for more information:
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| 0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| 0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| 0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| 0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
Which Flights Are Covered by EU261?
When a flight delayed for maintenance, it is also helpful to understand which flights exactly are covered by the EU 261/2004 regulation. The regulation works for all the flights departing from an airport based in the European Union; EU 261 also applies to all the flights arriving at an airport located in the EU (only if the flight is operated by an airline based in the European Union). Note that these rules can also be applied to any airline based in Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
See more details in the following table:
| Itinerary | EU air carrier | Non-EU air carrier |
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✅ Covered | ❌ Not covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not covered | ❌ Not covered |
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
The process of climbing the flight delayed due to maintenance compensation may seem straightforward at first. Nevertheless, the reality is such that passengers may find it challenging because of many different requirements.
We’ll help you avoid mistakes and accompany you every step of the way. Here’s what you need to do to get started:
- Complete the form: Our compensation claim form is very straightforward, and you won’t have any problems with it. Please note that we will ask you to provide all the necessary information, including your flight number, date, specific details concerning your issue, and contact information.
- Contact our experts for assistance: As soon as you complete the form, our professional staff member will get down to working on your case. We can guarantee that our employees are well-versed in EU law and, specifically, air passenger rights. If your case of a flight delayed for maintenance is more complicated and needs legal intervention, we also work with lawyers who will take on all the procedures to handle the claim. This presupposes any necessary follow-up and appeals on the client’s behalf. On top of that, we apply a No-win, no-fee approach to our work. It means that you do not have to pay anything unless your case is successfully resolved.
Extraordinary Circumstances Are not Covered
Despite many opportunities you get in terms of compensation claiming process, the EU 261 regulation states that a passenger cannot claim compensation if any extraordinary circumstances occur. Such extraordinary circumstances include events beyond the control of the airline company. Check the examples we listed below:
- Bad weather;
- Airport/trade union strikes;
- Bird strikes;
- Runway closures or any other restrictions caused by air traffic controllers;
- Political and civil unrest;
- Security risks/threats on the airport’s territory.
FAQ
Yes, if your flight is delayed by 3+ hours due to maintenance issues that are not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you can claim up to €600 in compensation under EU 261. Every case should be thoroughly analyzed to understand what reimbursement amount to expect.
The EU 261 regulation does not specify a time limit. However, passengers have a Right to Care in case of significant delays due to maintenance. The right presupposes that the airline company should offer food, beverages, phone calls/emails/faxes, and potential compensation if the total delay upon arrival is 3+ hours.