Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such 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 regulation that deals with air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this legislation covers diverse cases, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Moreover, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 encompasses regulations regarding the process of compensation, including assistance for passengers experiencing air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, depending on your circumstances.
Compensation for Royal Air Maroc Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. In case 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 regulation, is obligated to compensate 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 Royal Air Maroc Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, this is the case when the airline also must provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See key information 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 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
- 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 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 ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. In this case, 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.
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. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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).
In addition, if the airline potentially could have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you may be eligible for compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also covers 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, Royal Air Maroc is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged 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 Royal Air Maroc Compensation
Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face a flight cancellation or delay should know exactly how to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in this 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 handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.