Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these 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 European Union Regulation 261 is the regulation that deals with the rights of air passengers. More precisely, this law covers different situations, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. In addition, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 contains regulations concerning the compensation process, including aid to people experiencing issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, according to your circumstances. Compensation for Cayman Airways Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not provide 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 offered an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger could be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the length 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 Cayman Airways Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to provide 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, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See key information about 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers experiencing 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 know about 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 have to pay 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 get reimbursement. Here, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is determined by 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 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 delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, 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). In addition, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to prevent 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 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, Cayman Airways is not 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim Cayman Airways 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 including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.