One of the most common factors behind flight interruptions is flight strikes, which are often initiated 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 compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Learn more to find out how you can get compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261 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 261/2004:
- The airline must provide travelers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right 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 Finnair Strike Compensation
Frequently, Finnair strikes involve their staff. These could be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or other essential staff. As you’re now aware, you can seek airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you encountered 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 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.
Nonetheless, 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.
Finnair Strike Compensation
Before claiming compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Finnair Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for travelers. When airline staff go on strike, it can disrupt passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is important to know that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours due to a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It’s crucial 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 get.
| 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 |
Finnair Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellations. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for 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 regulations, and here is the case. The airline has a right to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This flight must meet the requirements 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 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. Take a look at 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 Finnair Flights Are Covered by EU261?
EU261 regulation applies to all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries when operated by airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to and from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The following table shows which Finnair flights are covered by EU Regulation 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Finnair Strike Compensation
If you have experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how irritating it can be.
Travelers who face any of these issues on Finnair flights have a right to claim compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.