Air Cairo Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, 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 cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

The EU 261 is the law that covers the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this law covers diverse cases, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. In addition, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

EU Regulation 261 encompasses regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance to people affected by flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your circumstances.

Compensation for Air Cairo Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies 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 offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to 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 Cairo 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 5 hours or more, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See essential details on 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 relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations.

The “Right to Care” under EU261 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Snacks and drinks appropriate for the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Transport between the airport and the hotel
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Upgrading and Downgrading

In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is helpful to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees for this upgrade.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to receive reimbursement. Here, you should be aware 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.

Consider that these rights cover any flights inside 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 aren’t eligible for compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 EU airports. It also applies to 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.

Nevertheless, Air Cairo isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they aren’t required 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.

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing from the EU airports	✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at the EU airports	❌ No

How to Claim Air Cairo Compensation

Flight delay or cancellation 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 delay or cancellation should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

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