Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU 261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
EU Regulation 261 is the law that covers the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. Moreover, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
The EU 261 includes regulations regarding the compensation process, including aid for passengers affected by air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, based on your circumstances.
Compensation for Air Burkina Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.
At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the length of the delay:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Compensation for Air Burkina Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, in such situations, the airline must also provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See key information about compensation in the table below:
| 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 |
Right to Care
Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services 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 hotel
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is good to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning that the amount of compensation is determined by 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 cover all flights 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 will not receive compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the airline’s control. Some of the 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).
In addition, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also applies to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Nevertheless, Air Burkina isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they aren’t required to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This applies even to their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Air Burkina Compensation
Flight cancellation or delay is an unpleasant situation that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face a flight delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
16.06.202513:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
16.06.202511:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
13.06.202520:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
13.06.202518:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
06.06.202520:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
02.06.202513:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
02.06.202511:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
30.05.202518:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
26.05.202513:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
23.05.202518:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
16.05.202520:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
16.05.202518:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
09.05.202518:50 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
06.05.202520:05 | Air Burkina 2521 | Abidjan (ABJ) Nairobi (NBO) | delayed | Claim Refund |
05.05.202508:00 | Air Burkina 507 | Ouagadougou (OUA) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.04.202513:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) Ouagadougou (OUA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.04.202511:35 | Air Burkina 508 | Abidjan (ABJ) Bobo Dioulasso (BOY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
