Refunds and Compensation for Emirates Strike

Yurii Moskalenko
30.08.2024
Updated 05.05.2025

Flight delays or cancellations due to airline strikes can be frustrating, but there is good news for travelers. There is a law called EU 261/2004 that protects you. It stipulates that airlines must 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 assist you.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

Now let’s explore the details of EU Regulation 261/2004. 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 states that if you are covered by EU 261, you have a right to claim compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers disrupts your flight. It is worth noting, such situations do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” which are events outside the airline’s control.

Flight Cancellation Compensation

In line with 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.

However, as is frequently the case, there are exceptions you should be aware of. Specifically, the airline is entitled to refuse compensation if they choose to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight is required to 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 your final destination later than you were supposed to, you are still eligible to claim compensation.

The key factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the delay time. See the table provided below for compensation amounts:

Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance
€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less
€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Flight Delay Compensation

Delays due to airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and may seriously affect your itinerary. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay caused by an airline strike lasts at least three hours.

As for the potential compensation amount that passengers can expect, there are two crucial factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. See the table provided below for compensation amounts:

Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance
€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km
€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Ticket Refund or Alternative Transportation

In the rare situations when a passenger’s flight is either cancelled or delayed for 5 or more hours, the passenger is entitled to more substantial rights. You have two options to select 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

In addition to compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight due to an airline strike, passengers are also entitled to the right to care. Therefore, the airline is required to provide passengers with meals, beverages, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. When your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline has to provide you with a hotel, as well as transport between the airport and the hotel.

Upgrading and Downgrading

In some instances, it happens the airline can either upgrade or downgrade your flight’s class when offering an alternative flight. In such cases, you need to know about specific rules and your rights:

In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you aren’t required to pay extra for this advantage.

In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline is obligated to reimburse you. Again, the compensation in this case entirely depends 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 inside the EU; besides, these regulations cover flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on airlines based in the EU.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, you should know 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 could considerably 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. As a result, an airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.

Although many instances of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this does not automatically mean that the airline will not pay compensation.

According to 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 provide 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, Emirates isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have 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.

ItineraryCovered by EU 261
Flights departing from EU airports✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at EU airports❌ No

How to Get Emirates Strike Compensation

Dealing with cancelled or delayed flights due to strikes is always frustrating. It can ruin not just your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To seek compensation for this inconvenience, proceed with these steps:

  1. Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
  2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee 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 Airline (Flight number) Route Status Your compensation

29.05.202519:45

Emirates

4957

Athens (ATH)

Limnos (LXS)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202517:30

Emirates

3584

Jakarta (CGK)

Solo City (SOC)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202516:00

Emirates

3935

Frankfurt (FRA)

Palma Mallorca (PMI)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202515:30

Emirates

4022

Johannesburg (JNB)

Sishen (SIS)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202514:50

Emirates

7510

Sydney (SYD)

Ballina (BNK)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202514:20

Emirates

4137

Johannesburg (JNB)

Bulawayo (BUQ)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202513:40

Emirates

2364

Tel Aviv Yafo (TLV)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202513:10

Emirates

4109

Johannesburg (JNB)

Sokcho (SHO)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202512:50

Emirates

2434

Krakow (KRK)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202510:25

Emirates

2090

Dubai (DXB)

Lar (LRR)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202507:35

Emirates

2433

Dubai (DXB)

Krakow (KRK)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202500:05

Emirates

313

Tokyo (HND)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202523:55

Emirates

323

Seoul (ICN)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:40

Emirates

6167

Chicago (IAH)

Victoria (VCT)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:40

Emirates

500

Dubai (DXB)

Mumbai (BOM)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:35

Emirates

2422

Dubai (DXB)

Almaty (ALA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:25

Emirates

522

Dubai (DXB)

Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:15

Emirates

404

Dubai (DXB)

Melbourne (MEL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202521:15

Emirates

2214

Dubai (DXB)

Istanbul (IST)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202520:55

Emirates

3482

Dubai (DXB)

Seoul (ICN)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202520:10

Emirates

417

Sydney (SYD)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:35

Emirates

2283

Dammam (DMM)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:35

Emirates

2083

Mashad (MHD)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:30

Emirates

503

Mumbai (BOM)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:30

Emirates

587

Dhaka (DAC)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:25

Emirates

2156

Kathmandu (KTM)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:20

Emirates

2056

Dubai (DXB)

Amman (AMM)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:15

Emirates

2264

Dubai (DXB)

Riyadh (RUH)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:10

Emirates

2051

Kuwait City (KWI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:05

Emirates

2065

Tehran (IKA)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202518:55

Emirates

2294

Dubai (DXB)

Belgrade (BEG)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202518:15

Emirates

333

Manila (MNL)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202518:10

Emirates

904

Amman (AMM)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202517:30

Emirates

2054

Dubai (DXB)

Istanbul (SAW)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:50

Emirates

134

Moscow (DME)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:45

Emirates

584

Dubai (DXB)

Dhaka (DAC)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:40

Emirates

7507

Ballina (BNK)

Sydney (SYD)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:40

Emirates

2113

Karachi (KHI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:35

Emirates

2201

Tbilisi (TBS)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:30

Emirates

2311

Moscow (VKO)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:25

Emirates

2072

Dubai (DXB)

Baghdad (BGW)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:20

Emirates

2049

Kuwait City (KWI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:05

Emirates

7503

Ballina (BNK)

Melbourne (MEL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:00

Emirates

724

Addis Ababa (ADD)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:45

Emirates

803

Dubai (DXB)

Jeddah (JED)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:35

Emirates

2015

Manama (BAH)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:25

Emirates

56

Dusseldorf (DUS)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:15

Emirates

923

Dubai (DXB)

Cairo (CAI)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:15

Emirates

2303

Tehran (IKA)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:00

Emirates

2354

Sochi (AER)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:50

Emirates

7510

Sydney (SYD)

Ballina (BNK)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:40

Emirates

2151

Kuwait City (KWI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:35

Emirates

2477

Mombasa (MBA)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:35

Emirates

160

Oslo (OSL)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:30

Emirates

2013

Zagreb (ZAG)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:30

Emirates

2123

Ljubljana (LJU)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:10

Emirates

2233

Sarajevo (SJJ)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:55

Emirates

2221

Belgrade (BEG)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:40

Emirates

2364

Tel Aviv Yafo (TLV)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:25

Emirates

3483

Seoul (ICN)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:05

Emirates

4024

Johannesburg (JNB)

Skukuza (SZK)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:00

Emirates

2392

Napoli (NAP)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202512:55

Emirates

2186

Catania (CTA)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202512:50

Emirates

2434

Krakow (KRK)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202512:35

Emirates

4144

Bulawayo (BUQ)

Johannesburg (JNB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202512:15

Emirates

601

Karachi (KHI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:50

Emirates

4107

Johannesburg (JNB)

Kasane (BBK)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:25

Emirates

72

Paris (CDG)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:25

Emirates

2170

Entebbe (EBB)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:00

Emirates

2733

Dubai (DXB)

Madinah (MED)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:00

Emirates

2092

Dubai (DXB)

Shiraz (SYZ)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:00

Emirates

511

New Delhi (DEL)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:00

Emirates

2398

Dubai (DXB)

Muscat (MCT)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:50

Emirates

209

Dubai (DXB)

Athens (ATH)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:40

Emirates

723

Dubai (DXB)

Addis Ababa (ADD)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:20

Emirates

412

Dubai (DXB)

Sydney (SYD)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:15

Emirates

2190

Dubai (DXB)

Zanzibar (ZNZ)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:10

Emirates

2059

Amman (AMM)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:05

Emirates

406

Dubai (DXB)

Melbourne (MEL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:05

Emirates

448

Dubai (DXB)

Auckland (AKL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:05

Emirates

651

Colombo (CMB)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:55

Emirates

856

Kuwait City (KWI)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:50

Emirates

516

Dubai (DXB)

New Delhi (DEL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:50

Emirates

22

Manchester (MAN)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:50

Emirates

2077

Al Najaf (NJF)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:35

Emirates

205

Dubai (DXB)

Rome (MXP)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:20

Emirates

613

Islamabad (ISB)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:20

Emirates

2012

Dubai (DXB)

Zagreb (ZAG)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:20

Emirates

2158

Warsaw (WAW)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:10

Emirates

2232

Dubai (DXB)

Sarajevo (SJJ)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202509:00

Emirates

370

Dubai (DXB)

Bangkok (BKK)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:50

Emirates

49

Dubai (DXB)

Munich (MUC)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:45

Emirates

757

Dubai (DXB)

Algiers (ALG)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:40

Emirates

77

Dubai (DXB)

Nice (NCE)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:40

Emirates

747

Dubai (DXB)

Tunis (TUN)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:35

Emirates

2446

Dubai (DXB)

Kathmandu (KTM)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:30

Emirates

201

Dubai (DXB)

New York (JFK)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:30

Emirates

89

Dubai (DXB)

Geneva (GVA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:20

Emirates

65

Dubai (DXB)

London (STN)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202508:20

Emirates

73

Dubai (DXB)

Paris (CDG)

delayed

Claim Refund
Yurii Moskalenko
2296 articles
Yurii educates people about human rights and advocacy. He creates helpful materials for travelers to assert their rights. With certifications in law and economics, Yurii turns legal terms into simple, actionable advice. His travel experience gives him valuable insight into the challenges travelers face, helping him better understand their needs.

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