One of the most common reasons for flight disruptions is flight strikes, which can be arranged by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, according to which you may be eligible for AirBaltic compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how to obtain compensation and under what circumstances.
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 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 the event of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to choose one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rerouting to the final destination under similar conditions. To receive a AirBaltic refund, passengers must have a confirmed reservation;
- Passengers can expect to receive food and beverages; 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 obligated 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 AirBaltic Strike Compensation
Often, AirBaltic strikes involve their staff. These can be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial staff. As you now know, you may be eligible for compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced because of the strike.
It is also crucial to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events outside of the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not required to provide compensation. Importantly, if a staff strike occurs, 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 caused 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 pay compensation.
AirBaltic Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you need to know about the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
AirBaltic Strike Flight Delay Compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours due to the AirBaltic strike, you may be eligible for compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EU 261/2004. It is important to note that the amount of compensation depends on 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 |
AirBaltic Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
If your flight was cancelled and the airline informed you less than 14 days before your scheduled travel, you might qualify for compensation of up to €600 under EU 261/2004. However, in some cases, the airline might not have to pay compensation if it provides an alternative flight to your final destination that satisfies 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 your destination was still delayed, you can 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 AirBaltic Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries when operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to and from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
The following table shows which AirBaltic flights are covered by EU 261/2004:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim AirBaltic Strike Compensation
If you’ve experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Travelers who experience any of these situations are entitled to claim AirBaltic compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details such as 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 understand the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You are only charged 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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