Belavia Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU261, 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, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

European Union Regulation 261 encompasses rules concerning the process of compensation, including aid to travelers affected by issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your specific case.

Compensation for Belavia 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 the date of your flight and does not provide 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 provided with an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be eligible for 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 Belavia 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 may receive 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 food, drinks, and accommodation. See essential details about 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.

The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Food and beverages 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

When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is good to understand 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 will not have to pay additional fees for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can obtain reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning 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.

Be aware that these rights cover 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 aren’t eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from European Union 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, Belavia 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 Belavia Compensation

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

1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

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