Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 European Union Regulation 261 is the legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this law covers different situations, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 contains regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance to people experiencing air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your circumstances. Compensation for Air Arabia Maroc Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline informs you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on the length of the delay: Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km Compensation for Air Arabia Maroc Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination. Furthermore, this is the case when the airline is also required to provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See key information about compensation in the table below: Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km Right to Care Right to Care pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays. The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Snacks and drinks appropriate to the waiting time Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is helpful to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this service. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to obtain reimbursement. In this case, it is worth mentioning that the amount of compensation fully depends on the distance of a flight: 30% of the flight tickets cost for a 1,500 km distance or less; 50% of the flight tickets cost (specifically, for intra-EU flights that are over 1,500 km and all other flights with a 1,500 km and 3,500 km distance; 75% of the ticket price for flights with a 3,500+ km distance. Keep in mind that these rights apply to every flight within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union operated by airlines based in the EU. When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation? Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are not within the airline’s control. A few examples are as follows: Bad weather conditions and natural disasters; Political circumstances (related security risks, terrorist attacks); A collision of the aircraft and foreign objects (birds, for instance); Unruly or very ill passengers; Strikes (that are not caused by the airline’s crew). Furthermore, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you may be eligible for compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also covers flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. However, Air Arabia Maroc is not a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This is true even for their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim Air Arabia Maroc Compensation Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face a flight cancellation or delay should be aware of the process to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to get you your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.