One of the most common factors behind flight disruptions is flight strikes, which are often initiated 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 Air Belgium 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 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, according to European Regulation 261:
- The airline needs to provide travelers with information about their rights;
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to choose one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rebooking to the final destination under similar conditions. To receive a Air Belgium refund, passengers must have a confirmed reservation;
- Passengers can expect to receive meals and drinks; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes;
- If you decide to reroute, 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 employees. These could be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or other essential employees. As you now know, you may be eligible for airline strike compensation, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced due to 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 obliged to provide compensation. It is important to note if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, thus such cases 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.
Nonetheless, you should understand 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.
Air Belgium Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Air Belgium Strike Flight Delay Compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours due to the Air Belgium strike, you may be eligible for compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EU 261. Keep in mind that the amount of compensation is determined by the distance of the flight and the time of delay.
For more details on the amount of compensation, see 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 |
Air Belgium Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
If your flight was cancelled and the airline informed you less than 14 days before your scheduled travel, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600 under EU 261/2004. However, in some cases, the airline may avoid paying compensation if it offers an alternative flight to your final destination that meets certain criteria listed 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 the destination point was still delayed, you have a right 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. 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 Air Belgium Flights Are Covered by EU261?
EU261 regulation covers all flights departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU if they are operated by airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to and from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The following table shows which Air Belgium 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 Air Belgium Strike Compensation
If you’ve encountered flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these situations have a right to claim Air Belgium compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled due to the strike? 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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