Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU 261, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. This article will focus on Sky Aviation flight compensation, explaining when you may be entitled to it and how to claim it.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
The EU 261 is the law that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this regulation covers different situations, such as flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs as a result of 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
EU Regulation 261 includes rules regarding the compensation process, including assistance to people experiencing issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, based on your circumstances.
Sky Aviation Flight Cancellation Compensation
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 flight date 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 offered an alternative flight but arrives at 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 |
Sky Aviation Flight Delay Compensation
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the delay time, with longer delays generally resulting in higher compensation amounts. When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to provide 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, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with beverages, some food, 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 |
When submitting a compensation claim for a delayed flight, providing accurate flight details is essential to support your case.
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 to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.
The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Meals 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
When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is good 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 (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to receive 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.
Consider that these rights cover every flight 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 not within 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 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 Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends 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, Sky Aviation isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they are not obliged 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 Sky Aviation 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 claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to get you your compensation. You are only charged 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 | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
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