One of the most common causes of flight disruptions is flight strikes, which may be organized by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, under which you could be eligible for 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 any passenger is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261:
- The airline needs to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled to select one of these 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 decide to reroute, and it involves an overnight stay, the airline is required to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.
- Compensation from 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Air Malta Strike Compensation
Frequently, Air Malta strikes involve their workers. These could be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential personnel. As you’re now aware, you can seek 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 obliged to provide compensation. Importantly, 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, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. Consequently, passengers are entitled to claim flight compensation.
However, you need to be aware that each incident is unique, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will provide compensation.
Air Malta Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you need to know about the criteria and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Air Malta Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes 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 be aware that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours due to a strike, you have the right to seek compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the delay length they experience. 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 see a table with the amounts of compensation you can 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 |
Air Malta Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellation. Under EU Regulation 261, you may receive compensation of up to 600 Euros. It’s important to know 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.
Nevertheless, there are always some exceptions to the rules, and here is the case. The airline is entitled to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This alternative flight must meet the conditions 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 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 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 Malta Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation applies to every flight departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries if they are operated by EU airlines. It also applies to flights to and from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The following table shows which Air Malta flights are covered 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 Malta Strike Compensation
If you have encountered flight delays or cancellations at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these situations on Air Malta flights have a right to claim compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- 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 know the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.