Cancelled and delayed flights are the most frequent issues faced by travelers. Luckily, the European Union has EU Regulation 261/2004, which guarantees that you, as a passenger, are not left in a difficult situation and that your rights are protected. The EU Regulation 261/2004 defines the situations when passengers are eligible for compensation and assistance in the event of flight disruption.
In this article, you will find everything you need to know about Regulation EU261 and when you are eligible for compensation.
Passenger Rights under EU 261/2004
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, travelers flying to or from Cologne Bonn Airport on flights operated by EU-based airlines have certain rights when facing significant delays or cancellations. These rights include:
- Food and drinks: Airlines must provide proper meals and beverages during the waiting period;
- Access to means of communication: Passengers should be offered two free phone calls, emails, or faxes;
- Hotel accommodation if necessary: When an overnight stay is necessary, the airline is obligated to offer assistance, including hotel stays and transport to and from the hotel;
- Ticket refund or alternative flight: Travelers can select either a full refund of their ticket, including any extra costs, or rebooking on an alternative flight to their final destination;
- Compensation: If the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances and remained within the airline’s control, travelers may be entitled to financial compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance and length of the delay.
Cologne Bonn Airport Flight Delay Compensation
Travelers facing flight delays at Cologne Bonn Airport might be entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros per person, especially if the delay lasts longer than three hours. The right to compensation is decided by the reason for the delay and whether it complies with UK and EU regulations. The amount of compensation is determined on the time of arrival at the destination rather than departure time and is influenced by the distance of the flight and the length of the delay.
| 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 |
Keep in mind that airlines are not required to provide compensation for flight delays due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.
Cologne Bonn Airport Flight Cancellation Compensation
In case of a cancelled flight causing inconvenience at the Cologne Bonn Airport, under EU Regulation 261, passengers can receive compensation of up to €600 if the airline notifies them less than 14 days before departure.
Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this law. The airline might be exempt from compensating passengers if it provides an alternative flight that meets certain criteria, letting you arrive at your destination with the minimal delay possible:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Compensation could still be available even though you accept an alternative flight, provided your arrival at the final destination is significantly delayed. The compensation amount is calculated by the distance of the flight and the length of the delay. You can refer to this table to figure out the amount of compensation you are eligible for:
| 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 |
Keep in mind that airlines usually don’t offer compensation for cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as severe weather or strikes by air traffic controllers.
Which Cologne Bonn Airport Flights are Covered by EU261?
When you’re departing from an airport within the European Union and flying on a flight originating in the EU operated by an airline, you are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004, which defines your air passenger rights. This law applies to both domestic and international flights and guarantees that you have certain rights in case of delays, flight cancellations, denied boarding, and other similar situations. Here’s a more detailed table of which situations are protected by EU Regulation 261:
| Itinerary | EU Airline | Non-EU Airline |
| Departures from Cologne Bonn Airport to anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Arrivals at Cologne Bonn Airport from inside the EU | Yes | No |
| Arrivals at Cologne Bonn Airport from outside the EU | Yes | No |
How to Claim Compensation from Cologne Bonn Airport
Flight delays and cancellations are common due to factors such as extreme weather conditions, air traffic congestion, technical problems, or crew shortages. If you encounter a flight disruption at Cologne Bonn Airport, you could be eligible for compensation under EU 261/2004.
To initiate your compensation claim, proceed with these steps:
- Complete 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 handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
It is important to note that the compensation claim process requires documents such as booking confirmation and boarding pass.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Find your flight in the table below and use our claims checker to see if you are eligible for compensation.
Did not find your flight in our table? Fill in our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
07.01.202616:35 | empty | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:40 | SunExpress 115 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:45 | Ryanair | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:05 | NetJets Aviation | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202604:20 | Star Air 6228 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202619:15 | UPS Airlines 224 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202618:50 | Eurowings 382 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202616:00 | Ryanair 5520 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202615:20 | Eurowings 6904 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202614:30 | Ryanair 1596 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202614:00 | Unicair 107 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202613:55 | Ryanair 4450 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202613:45 | Cargo Air 1906 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202613:35 | Air China LTD 6130 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202613:35 | United Airlines 8917 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202613:35 | Lufthansa 1979 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202612:15 | NATO | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202612:15 | Eurowings 582 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202611:55 | Eurowings 652 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202611:55 | Aegean Airlines 3890 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202611:45 | Eurowings 816 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202611:25 | Pegasus 1012 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202611:00 | Air Arabia 224 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202610:20 | Ryanair 1355 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202609:45 | Eurowings 6901 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202607:20 | Eurowings 646 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202603:10 | DHL Air 5302 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.01.202621:50 | UR Airlines 436 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.01.202609:20 | Germany – Air Force 627 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.01.202619:55 | Wizz Air 5122 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.01.202619:45 | Aeroways 311 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.01.202607:15 | Eurowings 986 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.01.202606:50 | Star Air 9021 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.01.202605:30 | Eurowings 972 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.01.202606:50 | Eurowings 610 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.01.202603:43 | UPS Airlines 10 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
31.12.202519:40 | Ryanair 2308 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
31.12.202516:45 | AJet 518 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
31.12.202504:10 | Sprint Air 1976 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.12.202520:50 | Air Serbia 1299 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.12.202508:15 | UPS Airlines 10 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.12.202517:55 | Lufthansa 1985 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.12.202517:55 | Air Baltic 6436 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.12.202517:00 | Eurowings 492 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.12.202516:00 | AJet 90 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.12.202515:15 | Pegasus 1018 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.12.202515:00 | Wizz Air | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.12.202513:55 | Wizz Air | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.12.202520:25 | Ryanair 1596 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.12.202500:55 | Pegasus 1014 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.12.202516:00 | AJet 90 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.12.202509:00 | Wizz Air 4300 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.12.202508:00 | Air Explore | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.12.202507:15 | Eurowings 986 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
25.12.202515:55 | Wizz Air 5122 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
24.12.202504:50 | DHL Air | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
24.12.202504:20 | Star Air 6228 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
23.12.202521:20 | UPS Airlines 214 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
23.12.202519:15 | UPS Airlines 224 | () () | Delayed | Claim Refund |
