Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU 261, 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 law that covers the rights of air passengers. More precisely, this legislation covers diverse cases, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 contains rules concerning the compensation process, including aid to travelers who suffered from issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, based on your specific case. Compensation for Ethiopian Airlines Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you less than fourteen days before your scheduled departure 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 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 according to the duration 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 Ethiopian Airlines Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination. Furthermore, this is the case when the airline must also 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 refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays. The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Food and drinks 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 receives an alternative flight, it is important to be aware of 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 won’t be charged additional fees for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. Here, you should be aware 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 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 will not receive 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 potentially could have done 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 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends 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, Ethiopian Airlines 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim Ethiopian Airlines 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 our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.