Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be frustrating, but there is good news for passengers. There is a regulation called EU 261/2004 that protects you. It says that airlines have to issue compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed as a result of a strike. In this article, we will clarify what the EU 261 regulation is and how it can help you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s explore the details of EU Regulation 261. In the following sections, you will learn about your entitlement to compensation and what benefits you can expect in the event of a flight disruption.
Right to Compensation
The European Union regulation stipulates that if you are covered by EU 261, you have a right to seek compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers affects your flight. It is worth noting, that both cases do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” i.e., those beyond the airline’s control.
Atlas Air Flight Cancellation Compensation
According to EU Regulation 261, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you of the flight cancellation within 14 days before your planned departure date.
Yet, as it often happens, there are exceptions you should be aware of. In particular, the airline is entitled to refuse compensation if they decide to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight should also meet specific requirements:
- If your flight is over 3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 4 hours;
- If your flight is 1,500-3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 3 hours;
- If your flight is less than 1,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 2 hours.
If you agreed to the alternative flight provided by the airline but reached the final destination later than originally scheduled, you are still eligible to claim compensation.
The main factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the duration of the delay. See the table below for compensation amounts:
| 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 |
Atlas Air Flight Delay Compensation
Delays due to airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and can significantly disrupt your itinerary. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay resulting from an airline strike lasts three or more hours.
Regarding the potential compensation amount that passengers could be entitled to, there are two crucial factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Check the table provided below for compensation amounts:
| 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 |
Ticket Refund or Alternative Transportation
In the rare situations when a passenger’s flight is delayed for 5 or more hours or cancelled, the passenger has more significant rights. There are two options for you to choose from:
- You can refuse the delayed or cancelled flight and choose a full refund, meaning that you will also cancel your planned trip, and there won’t be a financial penalty for this.
- You can agree to use an alternative flight that the airline arranges for you.
As you can see, you have the right to select the option that meets your needs.
Right to Care
Besides flight compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight resulting from an airline strike, passengers are also entitled to the right to care. Therefore, the airline must provide passengers with meals, beverages, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. If your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline has to provide you with a hotel, as well as transport to and from the hotel.
Upgrading and Downgrading
Sometimes it happens the airline may either upgrade or downgrade your flight’s class when offering an alternative flight. In these situations, you need to understand specific rules and your rights:
In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you don’t need to pay extra for this advantage.
In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline must reimburse you. Again, the compensation in this case is based on the distance of the flight:
- 30% of the cost of the flights that are 1,500 km or less;
- 50% of the cost of t is an intra-EU flight over 1,500 km; also, if these are all other flights that are 1,500-3,500 km;
- 75% of the cost of the flight is 3,500 km and more.
These rules cover all flights within the EU; additionally, these rules cover flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on EU-based airlines.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, you should understand that in cases when the airline cannot control or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute can significantly affect aviation (such as a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such events are not under an airline’s control, and it’s not its fault that this situation occurs. Therefore, the airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.
Even though many instances of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this doesn’t automatically mean that the airline will not pay compensation.
In line with the ECJ ruling of 11 June 2020 (Case C-74/19), the airline must prove they have done everything possible to prevent a strike. If the airline cannot prove it, it is required to pay passengers compensation for flight disruptions.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
However, Atlas Air is not a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required to issue compensation if their flights operate outside the European Union. This is true even for their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Get Atlas Air Strike Compensation
Dealing with delayed or cancelled flights due to strikes is always frustrating. This can not only ruin your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To claim compensation for this inconvenience, follow these steps:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide flight details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
12.11.202513:00 | Atlas Air 8770 | Baku (GYD) Budapest (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.11.202513:00 | Atlas Air 563 | Zaragoza (ZAZ) Riyadh (RUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.11.202507:06 | Atlas Air 575 | Dubai (DWC) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.11.202505:50 | Atlas Air 569 | Dubai (DWC) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.11.202504:00 | Atlas Air 63 | Miami (MIA) Sao Paulo (VCP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202515:55 | Atlas Air 8904 | Miami (MIA) Sao Paulo (GRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202511:55 | Atlas Air 8230 | Sao Paulo (GRU) Santiago (SCL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202509:00 | Atlas Air 8770 | Hong Kong (HKG) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202508:30 | Atlas Air 4801 | Anchorage (ANC) Wuxi (WUX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202508:00 | Atlas Air 355 | Miami (MIA) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202505:40 | Atlas Air 8643 | Liege (LGG) Taipei (TPE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202505:25 | Atlas Air 654 | Anchorage (ANC) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.11.202502:44 | Atlas Air 8028 | Anchorage (ANC) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202523:35 | Atlas Air 8710 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202511:45 | Atlas Air 8238 | Frankfurt (FRA) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202511:45 | Atlas Air 8289 | Chicago (IAH) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202501:45 | Atlas Air 8866 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202501:30 | Atlas Air 7481 | Liege (LGG) Birmingham (BHM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.11.202500:15 | Atlas Air 812 | Anchorage (ANC) New York (JFK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202522:00 | Atlas Air 8005 | Huntsville (HSV) Luxembourg (LUX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202521:45 | Atlas Air 8089 | Jacksonville (JAX) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202520:15 | Atlas Air 4806 | Wuxi (WUX) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202517:00 | Atlas Air 654 | Hong Kong (HKG) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202516:19 | Atlas Air 8110 | Hong Kong (HKG) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202515:37 | Atlas Air 563 | Los Angeles (LAX) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202511:45 | Atlas Air 654 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202510:34 | Atlas Air 8110 | Anchorage (ANC) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202510:11 | Atlas Air 8608 | New York (JFK) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202508:40 | Atlas Air 9103 | Miami (MIA) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202507:25 | Atlas Air 349 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202507:15 | Atlas Air 8065 | Miami (MIA) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202503:00 | Atlas Air 8049 | Miami (MIA) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.11.202500:40 | Atlas Air 4356 | Sharjah (SHJ) Liege (LGG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202521:00 | Atlas Air 571 | Zaragoza (ZAZ) Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202516:20 | Atlas Air 8853 | Toronto (YYZ) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202514:10 | Atlas Air 567 | Baku (GYD) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202513:50 | Atlas Air 588 | Dubai (DWC) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202512:05 | Atlas Air 8049 | Santiago (SCL) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202510:20 | Atlas Air 8698 | Anchorage (ANC) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202507:35 | Atlas Air 526 | Zhengzhou (CGO) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202504:35 | Atlas Air 8008 | Jinan (TNA) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.11.202503:05 | Atlas Air 8676 | Anchorage (ANC) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202517:50 | Atlas Air 8769 | Budapest (BUD) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202513:45 | Atlas Air 8557 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202512:00 | Atlas Air 8003 | Miami (MIA) Santiago (SCL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202510:25 | Atlas Air 7132 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202509:00 | Atlas Air 8070 | Denver (BIF) Indianapolis (IND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202506:00 | Atlas Air 9392 | Anchorage (ANC) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202504:06 | Atlas Air 8517 | Anchorage (ANC) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202504:00 | Atlas Air 61 | Miami (MIA) Sao Paulo (VCP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.11.202501:50 | Atlas Air 7143 | Chicago (ORD) Tokyo (NRT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202523:20 | Atlas Air 8496 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202517:05 | Atlas Air 564 | Baku (GYD) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202507:45 | Atlas Air 8192 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202506:42 | Atlas Air 8941 | Anchorage (ANC) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202505:20 | Atlas Air 8548 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202502:00 | Atlas Air 8985 | Anchorage (ANC) Xiamen (XMN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.11.202501:45 | Atlas Air 8523 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202522:00 | Atlas Air 8095 | Miami (MIA) Santiago (SCL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202519:20 | Atlas Air 4803 | Chicago (ORD) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202518:50 | Atlas Air 33 | Buenos Aires (EZE) Santiago (SCL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202516:35 | Atlas Air 8997 | Miami (MIA) Anchorage (ANC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202513:00 | Atlas Air 563 | Zaragoza (ZAZ) Riyadh (RUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202511:55 | Atlas Air 8006 | Baku (GYD) London (EMA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202510:20 | Atlas Air 522 | Baku (GYD) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202509:25 | Atlas Air 3413 | Dubai (DWC) Tel Aviv Yafo (TLV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202506:10 | Atlas Air 8006 | Jinan (TNA) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.11.202504:05 | Atlas Air 522 | Zhengzhou (CGO) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202517:48 | Atlas Air 6044 | New York (JFK) Toronto (YYZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202517:17 | Atlas Air 8102 | Dallas (DFW) Lima (LIM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202516:14 | Atlas Air 8244 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202513:24 | Atlas Air 8711 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202511:09 | Atlas Air 8619 | Miami (MIA) Bogota (BOG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202510:30 | Atlas Air 790 | Port Of Spain (POS) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202505:42 | Atlas Air 8102 | Anchorage (ANC) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202505:25 | Atlas Air 8243 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202502:20 | Atlas Air 8837 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
04.11.202502:05 | Atlas Air 8710 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.11.202512:15 | Atlas Air 8803 | Berlin (HHN) Dover-Cheswold (DOV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.11.202509:58 | Atlas Air 9387 | Miami (MIA) Berlin (HHN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.11.202505:40 | Atlas Air 505 | Al Udeid (XJD) Berlin (HHN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.11.202505:24 | Atlas Air 9011 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
03.11.202501:29 | Atlas Air 9049 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202522:45 | Atlas Air 8866 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202512:40 | Atlas Air 569 | Dubai (DWC) Zaragoza (ZAZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202511:00 | Atlas Air 8373 | Anchorage (ANC) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202510:11 | Atlas Air 8046 | Miami (MIA) Kingston (KIN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202503:40 | Atlas Air 8237 | Chicago (ORD) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202503:30 | Atlas Air 8998 | Anchorage (ANC) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202503:23 | Atlas Air 8193 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202501:55 | Atlas Air 4806 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
02.11.202501:40 | Atlas Air 8854 | Anchorage (ANC) Toronto (YYZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202519:30 | Atlas Air 8229 | Amsterdam (AMS) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202512:45 | Atlas Air 8623 | Miami (MIA) Bogota (BOG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202510:00 | Atlas Air 4355 | Liege (LGG) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202509:38 | Atlas Air 9320 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202509:06 | Atlas Air 8865 | Chicago (ORD) Seoul (ICN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202509:05 | Atlas Air 61 | Miami (MIA) Sao Paulo (VCP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202508:55 | Atlas Air 8996 | Anchorage (ANC) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.11.202507:40 | Atlas Air 562 | Zhengzhou (CGO) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
