One of the most common reasons for flight disruptions is flight strikes, which are often organized by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of EU Regulation 261, under which you might be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how you can get compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that every air traveler is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, according to EU 261/2004:
- The airline has to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to select one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rerouting to the final destination under similar conditions;
- Passengers can expect to receive meals and drinks; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes.
- If you choose an alternative flight, and it involves an overnight stay, the airline is obligated to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the the hotel and airport.
- Compensation between 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to AeroItalia Strike Compensation
Often, AeroItalia strikes involve their employees. These can be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or any other crucial staff. As you now know, you can seek compensation for airline strikes, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you encountered because of the strike.
It is also crucial to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events beyond the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation. It is important to note if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, therefore these situations are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are made by the airline’s own employees, these are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. As a result, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you need to be aware that each incident is individual, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will provide compensation.
AeroItalia Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
AeroItalia Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes travelers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt travelers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is essential to know that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours because of a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical factors into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It’s essential to understand these factors, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you deserve. Below you can find a table with the amounts of compensation you may receive.
| 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 |
AeroItalia Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellation. Under EU 261, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Note that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline notified you about the cancellation less than 14 days before your travel.
However, there are always some exceptions to the regulations, and here is the case. The airline is entitled to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This flight must meet the criteria enumerated below:
| 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 |
Importantly, if you used an alternative flight but your final arrival time at your destination was still delayed, you have a right to claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation fully depends on the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Check the table below for more details:
| 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 |
Which AeroItalia Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU when operated by airlines based in the EU. It also applies to flights to/from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
The following table shows which AeroItalia flights are protected by EU 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim AeroItalia Strike Compensation
If you’ve experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how irritating it can be.
Passengers who face any of these issues on AeroItalia flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws well and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.