One of the most common causes of flight disruptions is flight strikes, which can be arranged by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, under which you might be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how to obtain compensation and in which situations.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that every air traveler is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union law that sets the rules for compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, according to European Regulation 261:
- 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 rebooking 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 required to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the the hotel and airport.
- Compensation from 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Air Belgium Strike Compensation
Often, Air Belgium strikes involve their staff. These could be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or other essential staff. As you now know, you have the right to claim airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced because of the strike.
It is also important 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 required to provide compensation. It is important to note if a staff strike occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and handled such incidents, thus these situations are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are made by the airline’s own employees, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. As a result, passengers are entitled to claim flight compensation.
However, 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 pay compensation.
Air Belgium Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you should be aware of the requirements and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Air Belgium Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for passengers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is essential to understand that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours because of a strike, you can claim compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In assessing the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical factors into account: the flight’s distance and the duration of the delay. It’s essential to understand these details, 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 can get.
| 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 |
Air Belgium Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Keep in mind that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline informed you about the cancellation less than 14 days before your travel.
Nevertheless, there are always some exceptions to the regulations, and here is the case. The airline has a right 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 are entitled to claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation is determined by the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Take a look at the table below for additional information:
| 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 Air Belgium Flights Are Covered by EU261?
EU261 regulation applies to all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries when operated by airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to and from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
The table below shows which Air Belgium flights are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Air Belgium Strike Compensation
If you’ve experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how irritating it can be.
Travelers who encounter any of these situations on Air Belgium flights are entitled to claim compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- 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 make every effort to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.