Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU 261/2004, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
The EU 261 is the legislation that deals with air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this legislation covers diverse cases, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
The EU 261 contains rules concerning the process of compensation, including aid to people who suffered from issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, based on your specific case.
Compensation for IrAero Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers need to know 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 provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.
At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based 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 IrAero Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated 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 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Snacks and beverages appropriate to the waiting time
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
- Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
In situations where a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is important to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to get reimbursement. In this case, 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 any flights inside the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union operated by airlines based in the EU.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. A few 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 avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also applies 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.
Nevertheless, IrAero isn’t a European airline. Consequently, 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 IrAero 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 understand the steps to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
19.06.202514:20 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202507:25 | IrAero 9515 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202514:20 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
16.06.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
15.06.202507:55 | IrAero 410 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
13.06.202516:00 | IrAero 9411 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
13.06.202508:55 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
09.06.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
08.06.202513:35 | IrAero 9411 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
08.06.202507:10 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
07.06.202502:00 | IrAero 231 | (UBN) Irkutsk (IKT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
05.06.202513:40 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
05.06.202507:25 | IrAero 9515 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
02.06.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
30.05.202508:50 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
26.05.202502:00 | IrAero 231 | (UBN) Irkutsk (IKT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
25.05.202512:40 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
25.05.202506:10 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
24.05.202502:00 | IrAero 231 | (UBN) Irkutsk (IKT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
23.05.202512:40 | IrAero 418 | (TLK) Irkutsk (IKT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
23.05.202512:00 | IrAero 9526 | (TLK) Novosibirsk (OVB) | delayed | Claim Refund |
23.05.202509:00 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
22.05.202507:25 | IrAero 9515 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
21.05.202514:40 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.05.202506:35 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
16.05.202513:40 | IrAero 4417 | Novosibirsk (OVB) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
15.05.202514:10 | IrAero 4417 | Novosibirsk (OVB) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
15.05.202509:00 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
12.05.202500:05 | IrAero 230 | Irkutsk (IKT) (UBN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
07.05.202514:55 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
07.05.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
06.05.202508:50 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
04.05.202507:30 | IrAero 9415 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
02.05.202508:50 | IrAero 417 | Irkutsk (IKT) (TLK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
