Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such 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
EU Regulation 261 is the legislation that deals with air passengers’ rights. In particular, this legislation covers different situations, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle 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 may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 includes rules concerning the compensation process, including assistance to people experiencing air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, according to your specific case.
Compensation for Air India Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, must pay 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 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 India Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or an alternative 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 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 refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.
The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing 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
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
In situations where a passenger gets 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 example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. In this case, it’s important to note 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.
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 will not receive compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of 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 potentially could have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU. 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 India isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they are not obliged 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 India Compensation
Flight delay or cancellation is an unpleasant situation that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to obtain your rightful 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
08.05.202523:50 | Air India 8169 | Seoul (ICN) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202520:45 | Air India 8016 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:45 | Air India 9617 | Imphal (IMF) Gawahati (GAU) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:30 | Air India 814 | Bhuj (BHJ) New Delhi (DEL) | cancelled | Refunds |
08.05.202516:05 | Air India 9616 | Gawahati (GAU) Imphal (IMF) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:05 | Air India 815 | New Delhi (DEL) Bhuj (BHJ) | cancelled | Refunds |
08.05.202515:00 | Air India 8410 | Hamburg (HAM) Vienna (VIE) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:50 | Air India 8252 | Singapore (SIN) Phnom Penh (SAI) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:15 | Air India 8161 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202523:50 | Air India 8169 | Seoul (ICN) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202518:25 | Air India 8009 | Tokyo (HND) Nagoya (NGO) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:30 | Air India 814 | Bhuj (BHJ) New Delhi (DEL) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202517:05 | Air India 8163 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:05 | Air India 815 | New Delhi (DEL) Bhuj (BHJ) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202513:55 | Air India 8164 | Singapore (SIN) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202513:35 | Air India 9415 | Jammu (IXJ) Srinagar (SXR) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202513:05 | Air India 648 | Jamnagar (JGA) Mumbai (BOM) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202512:10 | Air India 9414 | Srinagar (SXR) Jammu (IXJ) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202511:50 | Air India 357 | Tokyo (HND) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:00 | Air India 8003 | Tokyo (HND) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:00 | Air India 8007 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:00 | Air India 647 | Mumbai (BOM) Jamnagar (JGA) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202510:30 | Air India 8017 | Tokyo (HND) Hiroshima (HIJ) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:40 | Air India 8162 | Singapore (SIN) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202506:00 | Air India 8891 | Prague (PRG) Frankfurt (FRA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202502:40 | Air India 8051 | Mumbai (BOM) Nairobi (NBO) | cancelled | Refunds |
06.05.202523:25 | Air India 7546 | Addis Ababa (ADD) Nairobi (NBO) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:20 | Air India 8009 | Tokyo (HND) Nagoya (NGO) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:45 | Air India 8167 | Seoul (ICN) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202515:05 | Air India 815 | New Delhi (DEL) Bhuj (BHJ) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202514:55 | Air India 8826 | Stuttgart (STR) Frankfurt (FRA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202513:55 | Air India 8005 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202513:20 | Air India 9950 | Gawahati (GAU) Dimapur (DMU) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202511:50 | Air India 357 | Tokyo (HND) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202511:00 | Air India 647 | Mumbai (BOM) Jamnagar (JGA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202511:00 | Air India 8013 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (CTS) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:30 | Air India 8017 | Tokyo (HND) Hiroshima (HIJ) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:25 | Air India 8015 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:15 | Air India 8161 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202508:00 | Air India 8008 | Tokyo (ITM) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202507:50 | Air India 8014 | Tokyo (CTS) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202521:35 | Air India 9753 | Mumbai (BOM) Lucknow (LKO) | cancelled | Refunds |
05.05.202521:35 | Air India 8852 | Frankfurt (FRA) Bremen (BRE) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202520:30 | Air India 2209 | New Delhi (DEL) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202520:10 | Air India 9532 | Goa (GOI) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202519:35 | Air India 2985 | New Delhi (DEL) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202519:25 | Air India 2408 | Mumbai (BOM) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202519:15 | Air India 2455 | Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202519:10 | Air India 2732 | Mumbai (BOM) Coimbatore (CJB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202519:00 | Air India 2426 | Mumbai (BOM) New Delhi (DEL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:45 | Air India 7708 | Berlin (BER) Zurich (ZRH) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:40 | Air India 9719 | Jaipur (JAI) Mumbai (BOM) | cancelled | Refunds |
05.05.202518:25 | Air India 9533 | Mumbai (BOM) Goa (GOI) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:15 | Air India 8150 | Singapore (SIN) Denpasar (DPS) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:05 | Air India 9884 | Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) Hyderabad (HYD) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:55 | Air India 2955 | New Delhi (DEL) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:40 | Air India 877 | Mumbai (BOM) Dehra Dun (DED) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:30 | Air India 2774 | Kolkata (CCU) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:15 | Air India 441 | New Delhi (DEL) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:00 | Air India 9104 | Dubai (DXB) Kochi (COK) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:00 | Air India 2205 | New Delhi (DEL) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:45 | Air India 8519 | Berlin (BER) Frankfurt (FRA) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:35 | Air India 2596 | Udaipur (UDR) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:25 | Air India 9091 | Amritsar (ATQ) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:15 | Air India 558 | Amritsar (ATQ) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:15 | Air India 9718 | Mumbai (BOM) Jaipur (JAI) | cancelled | Refunds |
05.05.202516:00 | Air India 275 | Colombo (CMB) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:35 | Air India 9876 | Bangalore (BLR) Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:30 | Air India 6242 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Colombo (CMB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:25 | Air India 9668 | Mangalore (IXE) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:10 | Air India 2472 | Kolkata (CCU) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:05 | Air India 402 | Mumbai (BOM) Ahmedabad (AMD) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:05 | Air India 9519 | Varanasi (VNS) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:00 | Air India 7736 | Brussels (BRU) Zurich (ZRH) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:00 | Air India 9417 | Bhubaneswar (BBI) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:00 | Air India 2446 | Mumbai (BOM) Hyderabad (HYD) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:55 | Air India 2620 | Dehra Dun (DED) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:25 | Air India 2595 | Mumbai (BOM) Udaipur (UDR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:20 | Air India 131 | Mumbai (BOM) London (LHR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:55 | Air India 9530 | Goa (GOI) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:45 | Air India 337 | Mumbai (BOM) Bangkok (BKK) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:35 | Air India 572 | Mumbai (BOM) Chennai (MAA) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:30 | Air India 6241 | Colombo (CMB) Tiruchirapally (TRZ) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | Air India 2594 | Udaipur (UDR) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | Air India 2662 | Srinagar (SXR) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | Air India 2842 | Goa (GOI) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:05 | Air India 648 | Jamnagar (JGA) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:50 | Air India 8854 | Frankfurt (FRA) Bremen (BRE) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:45 | Air India 634 | Bhopal (BHO) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202511:55 | Air India 2580 | Udaipur (UDR) Mumbai (BOM) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202510:55 | Air India 9056 | Al Ain (AAN) Kozhikode (CCJ) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202509:15 | Air India 8161 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202509:10 | Air India 7559 | Addis Ababa (ADD) Entebbe (EBB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202507:30 | Air India 7703 | Zurich (ZRH) Dusseldorf (DUS) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202501:05 | Air India 9107 | Goa (GOI) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
04.05.202523:10 | Air India 9101 | Kolkata (CNN) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
04.05.202522:15 | Air India 8502 | Frankfurt (FRA) Sao Paulo (GIG) | delayed | Refunds |
04.05.202520:30 | Air India 2209 | New Delhi (DEL) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
04.05.202520:25 | Air India 983 | Mumbai (BOM) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
04.05.202519:20 | Air India 8009 | Tokyo (HND) Nagoya (NGO) | delayed | Refunds |
