Air India Express Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such 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

EU Regulation 261 is the law that deals with air passengers’ rights. In particular, this regulation covers different situations, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent 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

European Union Regulation 261 encompasses regulations regarding the process of compensation, including aid to travelers who suffered from air travel disruptions. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, depending on your specific case.

Compensation for Air India Express Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not offer 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 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 India Express Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, this is the case when the airline also must provide a passenger with beverages, some food, 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 establishes standard rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.

The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Food and drinks appropriate for 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 receives 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 had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged extra for this upgrade.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. Here, 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.

Be aware that these rights cover 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 cases, when passengers will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are outside of 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).

Moreover, if the airline might have been able to do 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?

European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends 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 India Express is not a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have 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 Express Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight delay or cancellation should be aware of the process to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

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