One of the most common factors behind flight disruptions is flight strikes, which can be arranged by airline staff, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, according to which you could 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 assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261/2004:
- The airline must provide travelers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled 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 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 Azores Airlines Strike Compensation
Often, Azores Airlines strikes involve their workers. These can be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial personnel. As you now know, you have the right to claim compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced 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 handled 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 have a right 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 provide compensation.
Azores Airlines Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you need to know about the conditions and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Azores Airlines 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 important to understand that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours because of a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In assessing 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 is important to understand these factors, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. In the following, you can see a table with the amounts of compensation you could 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 |
Azores Airlines Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellation. According to EU 261, 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 notified you about the cancellation less than two weeks 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 alternative flight must meet the 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 can claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation fully depends on the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Check 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 Azores Airlines Flights Are Covered by EU261?
EU261 regulation applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU when operated by airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to and from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The following table shows which Azores Airlines 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 Azores Airlines Strike Compensation
If you’ve faced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these issues on Azores Airlines flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide 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 are well-versed in the EU laws well and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.