One of the most common factors behind flight interruptions is flight strikes, which can be initiated by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, according to which you might be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how to obtain compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger 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 is required to provide travelers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to select one of these 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 choose an alternative flight, 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 ITA Airways Strike Compensation
Often, ITA Airways strikes involve their staff. These could be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or other essential staff. As you now know, you may be eligible for compensation for airline strikes, if your travel 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 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 occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, therefore 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 are entitled to claim flight compensation.
However, you should understand that each incident is unique, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will pay compensation.
ITA Airways Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, it’s important to understand the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
ITA Airways Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for passengers. 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 crucial to know that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours due to a strike, you have the right to seek compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical facts into account: the flight’s distance and the delay length they experience. It’s essential to understand these details, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. Below you can see a table with the amounts of compensation you can 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 |
ITA Airways Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. According to EU 261, you can claim 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 two weeks before your travel.
Nevertheless, there are always some exceptions to the rules, 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 conditions 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 is based on 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 ITA Airways Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation covers every flight departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU if they are operated by airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to/from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which ITA Airways flights are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim ITA Airways Strike Compensation
If you’ve faced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you know how irritating it can be.
Passengers who encounter any of these issues on ITA Airways flights are entitled to claim compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like 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 are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.