Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU 261, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, 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 the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this regulation covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. Furthermore, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 encompasses rules regarding the process of compensation, including aid to people who suffered from air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, based on your specific case. Compensation for Air Canada Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger may also be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on the duration 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 Canada Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is obligated to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination. Furthermore, in such situations, the airline also must provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See essential details on 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 refers to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases 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 facing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Meals 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 In situations where a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is good to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to get reimbursement. Here, you should be aware that the amount of compensation is entirely based 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 all flights within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union by airlines based in the EU. When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation? Unfortunately, there are cases, when passengers won’t get 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). Moreover, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to prevent issues regarding 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. However, Air Canada is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged 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 Canada 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 know exactly how to claim 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 handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.