Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be annoying, but there is good news for travelers. There is a law called EU 261 that protects you. It stipulates that airlines have to issue compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled as a result of a strike. In this article, we will clarify what EU261 is and how it can help you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s focus on the details of EU Regulation 261. In the following sections, you will discover your rights to compensation and what advantages you can expect in the event of a flight disruption.
Right to Compensation
The European Union regulation stipulates that if you are protected by the EU 261/2004, you are entitled to seek compensation if a wildcat or planned strike by airline 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 about the cancellation within two weeks before your planned departure date.
Yet, as is frequently the case, 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 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 offered by the airline but arrived at your final destination later than you were supposed to, 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. Check 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 |
Flight Delay Compensation
Delays caused by airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and can significantly disrupt your plans. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay resulting from an airline strike lasts a minimum of three hours.
As for the possible amount of compensation that passengers could be entitled to, there are two key factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. See the table 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
In addition to compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight resulting from an airline strike, passengers also have 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 from the airport to the hotel and back.
Upgrading and Downgrading
In some instances, it happens the airline might either downgrade or upgrade your flight’s class when providing an alternative flight. In these situations, you should 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 benefit.
In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline must reimburse you. Furthermore, 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 apply to 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 where 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 (it can be a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such occasions are not under an airline’s control, and it’s not its fault that this situation happens. As a result, the 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 doesn’t automatically mean that the airline will not provide 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?
European Union Regulation 261 applies to 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, Thai AirAsia is not a European airline. Consequently, 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 Thai AirAsia Strike Compensation
Dealing with flight cancellations or delays due to strikes is always frustrating. It can spoil your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To claim compensation for this inconvenience, proceed with these steps:
- 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 know the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.04.202522:15 | Thai AirAsia 871 | Adelaide (ADL) Ceduna (CED) | delayed | Refunds |
17.04.202514:45 | Thai AirAsia 842 | Darwin (DRW) Maningrida (MNG) | delayed | Refunds |
15.04.202519:00 | Thai AirAsia 445 | Mount Isa (ISA) Mornington (ONG) | delayed | Refunds |
15.04.202516:30 | Thai AirAsia 516 | Adelaide (ADL) Kingscote (KGC) | delayed | Refunds |
13.04.202516:45 | Thai AirAsia 425 | Hervey Bay (HVB) Bundaberg (BDB) | delayed | Refunds |
13.04.202515:30 | Thai AirAsia 425 | Brisbane (BNE) Hervey Bay (HVB) | delayed | Refunds |
13.04.202501:00 | Thai AirAsia 607 | Kalgoorlie (KGI) Perth (JAD) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202522:50 | Thai AirAsia 582 | Marree (RRE) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202522:45 | Thai AirAsia 607 | Perth (JAD) Kalgoorlie (KGI) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202520:45 | Thai AirAsia 480 | Mackay (MKY) Moranbah (MOV) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202516:00 | Thai AirAsia 581 | Adelaide (ADL) Mount Gambier (MGB) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202516:00 | Thai AirAsia 412 | Brisbane (BNE) Bundaberg (BDB) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202515:00 | Thai AirAsia 531 | Adelaide (ADL) Kingscote (KGC) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202514:55 | Thai AirAsia 841 | Alice Springs (ASP) Finke (FIK) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202513:30 | Thai AirAsia 803 | Adelaide (ADL) Alice Springs (ASP) | delayed | Refunds |
12.04.202508:30 | Thai AirAsia 480 | Townsville (TSV) Cloncurry (CNJ) | delayed | Refunds |
11.04.202522:45 | Thai AirAsia 491 | Brisbane (BNE) Quilpie (ULP) | delayed | Refunds |
11.04.202519:15 | Thai AirAsia 236 | Adelaide (ADL) Broken Hill (BHQ) | delayed | Refunds |
11.04.202515:30 | Thai AirAsia 469 | Brisbane (BNE) Thangool (THG) | delayed | Refunds |
11.04.202515:00 | Thai AirAsia 629 | Perth (JAD) Carnarvon (CVQ) | delayed | Refunds |
10.04.202522:30 | Thai AirAsia 456 | Mount Isa (ISA) Cloncurry (CNJ) | delayed | Refunds |
10.04.202520:25 | Thai AirAsia 582 | Adelaide (ADL) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
10.04.202516:10 | Thai AirAsia 514 | Adelaide (ADL) Olympic Dam (OLP) | delayed | Refunds |
10.04.202514:00 | Thai AirAsia 438 | Cairns (CNS) Coen (CUQ) | delayed | Refunds |
09.04.202514:10 | Thai AirAsia 458 | Mount Isa (ISA) Boulia (BQL) | delayed | Refunds |
08.04.202515:30 | Thai AirAsia 269 | Tibooburra (TYB) Broken Hill (BHQ) | delayed | Refunds |
08.04.202508:10 | Thai AirAsia 514 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
08.04.202507:40 | Thai AirAsia 458 | Mount Isa (ISA) Boulia (BQL) | delayed | Refunds |
07.04.202518:40 | Thai AirAsia 512 | Adelaide (ADL) Ceduna (CED) | delayed | Refunds |
07.04.202516:45 | Thai AirAsia 843 | Alice Springs (ASP) Ayers Rock (AYQ) | delayed | Refunds |
07.04.202516:15 | Thai AirAsia 471 | Charleville (CTL) (WTB) | delayed | Refunds |
06.04.202515:50 | Thai AirAsia 564 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
06.04.202515:00 | Thai AirAsia 471 | Brisbane (BNE) Longreach (LRE) | delayed | Refunds |
06.04.202515:00 | Thai AirAsia 603 | Meekatharra (MKR) Newman (ZNE) | delayed | Refunds |
06.04.202508:20 | Thai AirAsia 609 | Kalgoorlie (KGI) Leinster (LER) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202515:20 | Thai AirAsia 3135 | Narathiwat (NAW) Bangkok (DMK) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202514:45 | Thai AirAsia 608 | Bussellton (BQB) Perth (JAD) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202513:45 | Thai AirAsia 608 | Perth (JAD) Bussellton (BQB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202513:35 | Thai AirAsia 445 | Cairns (CNS) Aurukun Mission (AUU) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202513:25 | Thai AirAsia 3134 | Bangkok (DMK) Narathiwat (NAW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.04.202501:15 | Thai AirAsia 546 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
04.04.202519:30 | Thai AirAsia 401 | Townsville (TSV) Normanton (NTN) | delayed | Refunds |
04.04.202514:45 | Thai AirAsia 842 | Darwin (DRW) Maningrida (MNG) | delayed | Refunds |
04.04.202514:00 | Thai AirAsia 436 | Mount Isa (ISA) Bedourie (BEU) | delayed | Refunds |
04.04.202509:00 | Thai AirAsia 436 | Mount Isa (ISA) Karumba (KRB) | delayed | Refunds |
03.04.202516:30 | Thai AirAsia 546 | Adelaide (ADL) Olympic Dam (OLP) | delayed | Refunds |
02.04.202513:10 | Thai AirAsia 871 | Alice Springs (ASP) Ayers Rock (AYQ) | delayed | Refunds |
02.04.202510:30 | Thai AirAsia 493 | Roma (RMA) (WTB) | delayed | Refunds |
01.04.202516:05 | Thai AirAsia 291 | Melbourne (AVV) Portland (PTJ) | delayed | Refunds |
31.03.202521:00 | Thai AirAsia 414 | Brisbane (BNE) Longreach (LRE) | delayed | Refunds |
31.03.202516:50 | Thai AirAsia 3549 | Loei (LOE) Bangkok (DMK) | delayed | Refunds |
31.03.202515:10 | Thai AirAsia 3548 | Bangkok (DMK) Loei (LOE) | delayed | Refunds |
30.03.202519:00 | Thai AirAsia 252 | Adelaide (ADL) Broken Hill (BHQ) | delayed | Refunds |
30.03.202515:20 | Thai AirAsia 568 | Adelaide (ADL) Ceduna (CED) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202519:55 | Thai AirAsia 527 | Coober Pedy (CPD) Ceduna (CED) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202517:30 | Thai AirAsia 527 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202515:50 | Thai AirAsia 489 | Cooktown (CTN) Cairns (CNS) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202514:45 | Thai AirAsia 618 | Perth (JAD) Esperance (EPR) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202514:10 | Thai AirAsia 529 | Mungeranie (MNE) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202512:55 | Thai AirAsia 3141 | Ranong (UNN) Bangkok (DMK) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202512:30 | Thai AirAsia 493 | (WTB) Goondiwindi (GOO) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202511:30 | Thai AirAsia 436 | Mareeba (MRG) Mount Isa (ISA) | delayed | Refunds |
29.03.202511:00 | Thai AirAsia 493 | St George (SGO) (WTB) | delayed | Refunds |
28.03.202520:30 | Thai AirAsia 531 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
28.03.202519:30 | Thai AirAsia 535 | Adelaide (ADL) Mount Gambier (MGB) | delayed | Refunds |
28.03.202519:00 | Thai AirAsia 491 | Townsville (TSV) Proserpine (PPP) | delayed | Refunds |
28.03.202518:30 | Thai AirAsia 576 | Adelaide (ADL) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
28.03.202511:00 | Thai AirAsia 608 | Port Hedland (PHE) Telfer (TEF) | delayed | Refunds |
26.03.202511:15 | Thai AirAsia 493 | Charleville (CTL) Windorah (WNR) | delayed | Refunds |
25.03.202514:30 | Thai AirAsia 416 | Charleville (CTL) Birdsville (BVI) | delayed | Refunds |
25.03.202513:45 | Thai AirAsia 489 | Cairns (CNS) Coen (CUQ) | delayed | Refunds |
24.03.202517:00 | Thai AirAsia 856 | Alice Springs (ASP) Alice Springs (ASP) | delayed | Refunds |
24.03.202516:50 | Thai AirAsia 865 | Tennant Creek (TCA) Alice Springs (ASP) | delayed | Refunds |
23.03.202516:45 | Thai AirAsia 296 | Adelaide (ADL) Broken Hill (BHQ) | delayed | Refunds |
23.03.202512:10 | Thai AirAsia 571 | Adelaide (ADL) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202522:05 | Thai AirAsia 576 | Yalata Mission (KYI) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202520:15 | Thai AirAsia 534 | Adelaide (ADL) Port Augusta (PUG) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202519:15 | Thai AirAsia 601 | Port Hedland (PHE) Onslow (ONS) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202519:00 | Thai AirAsia 445 | Cairns (CNS) Weipa (WEI) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202515:10 | Thai AirAsia 568 | Adelaide (ADL) Mount Gambier (MGB) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202514:00 | Thai AirAsia 478 | Longreach (LRE) Barcaldine (BCI) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202514:00 | Thai AirAsia 436 | Mornington (ONG) Normanton (NTN) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202512:45 | Thai AirAsia 478 | Blackall (BKQ) Longreach (LRE) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202510:30 | Thai AirAsia 445 | Cairns (CNS) Kowanyama (KWM) | delayed | Refunds |
22.03.202508:45 | Thai AirAsia 542 | Adelaide (ADL) Coober Pedy (CPD) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202520:40 | Thai AirAsia 296 | Adelaide (ADL) Broken Hill (BHQ) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202519:30 | Thai AirAsia 423 | Townsville (TSV) Cloncurry (CNJ) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202519:00 | Thai AirAsia 445 | Cairns (CNS) Cooktown (CTN) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202518:10 | Thai AirAsia 521 | Adelaide (ADL) Kingscote (KGC) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202516:10 | Thai AirAsia 512 | Adelaide (ADL) Ceduna (CED) | delayed | Refunds |
21.03.202511:15 | Thai AirAsia 447 | Rockhampton (ROK) Moranbah (MOV) | delayed | Refunds |
20.03.202517:25 | Thai AirAsia 3245 | Bangkok (DMK) Trang (TST) | delayed | Refunds |
20.03.202511:45 | Thai AirAsia 480 | Townsville (TSV) Moranbah (MOV) | delayed | Refunds |
19.03.202507:30 | Thai AirAsia 491 | Mount Isa (ISA) Normanton (NTN) | delayed | Refunds |
18.03.202519:30 | Thai AirAsia 491 | Mount Isa (ISA) Winton (WIN) | delayed | Refunds |
18.03.202511:00 | Thai AirAsia 471 | Rockhampton (ROK) Gladstone (GLT) | delayed | Refunds |
18.03.202510:15 | Thai AirAsia 458 | Birdsville (BVI) Bedourie (BEU) | delayed | Refunds |
18.03.202508:45 | Thai AirAsia 471 | Emerald (EMD) Rockhampton (ROK) | delayed | Refunds |
16.03.202516:05 | Thai AirAsia 1031 | Luang Prabang (LPQ) Bangkok (DMK) | delayed | Refunds |
16.03.202508:45 | Thai AirAsia 491 | Doomadgee (DMD) Mount Isa (ISA) | delayed | Refunds |