Georgian Airways Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU 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

The EU 261 is the law that deals with air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this law covers different situations, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. In addition, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

EU Regulation 261 encompasses rules regarding the process of compensation, including aid for passengers affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, based on your specific case.

Compensation for Georgian Airways Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline informs you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, 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 original flight was supposed to, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the duration 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 Georgian Airways Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, in such situations, the airline must also provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in the event 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 experiencing 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

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 booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can get reimbursement. In this case, 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.

Consider 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 won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are not within 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 might have been able to do something to avoid 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 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. 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, Georgian Airways 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 Georgian Airways Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay is an unpleasant situation 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 seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

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