Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU261, 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 law that deals with air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this regulation covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. In addition, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 includes rules regarding the compensation process, including aid for passengers experiencing flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, based on your specific case.
Compensation for Air North Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform 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, 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 entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending 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 North Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger can expect 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 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 sets out regulations on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Food and beverages 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
When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can obtain 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 apply to any flights inside 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 talk about 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 could hypothetically have done something to prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 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.
However, Air North is not a European airline. Therefore, 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 North 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 know exactly how to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in our 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 manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.