Flight cancelled or delayed due to strike? Know your rights

Claim compensation for cancelled or delayed flights due to strike

Airport and airline strikes are a common cause of flight disruptions that greatly affect air passengers. If you have experienced a recent flight delay or cancellation due to strike action, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation, as well as meals, refreshments, and even hotel costs. Our extensive Flightright strike guide explains all your rights in detail.

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Are you currently impacted by an airline strike?

Strikes regularly cause severe disruptions to flight operations. If you are currently affected by an airport or airline strike, you should know that you are entitled to:

• Alternative transport: The airline is obliged to organise alternative transport for you at the earliest opportunity to get you to your final destination.

• Care at the airport: If your flight is delayed by more than two hours, you are entitled to free meals, refreshments, telephone calls and even hotel accommodation (for overnight delays only).

• Ticket refund: Is your flight delayed by more than 5 hours or cancelled? Then you can cancel your flight and claim a full refund of the ticket price.

• Compensation claim: If airline staff go on strike, you may be entitled to compensation of between €250 and €600 under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation.

With Flightright, you have a competent partner at your side. We will enforce your compensation claim for you – in court if necessary. Check your case in 2 minutes with our compensation calculator. If you are entitled to compensation, you can then conveniently instruct Flightright to enforce your claim.

Not sure whether you are entitled to strike compensation? Check your claim for free now!

Your passenger rights in the event of flight strike

Under EU Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to €600 for flight cancellations, overbooking, or long delays. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in 2018 that this also applies to strikes if the airline is responsible and could have taken preventive measures. In 2021, the ECJ confirmed that union strikes by airline staff can entitle passengers to compensation, as such strikes are often linked to internal airline decisions rather than extraordinary circumstances.

Even when a flight is cancelled before or after the official strike period, passengers may still claim compensation if the disruption stems from the strike’s effects. The ECJ justified this because otherwise a passenger would be completely unprotected if an airline could also invoke events whose solution is within its control (ECJ, judgment of 4 October 2012, ref.: C-22/11).

When am I entitled to flight strike compensation?

You are entitled to strike compensation under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation (EC No. 261/2004) if the following conditions are met:

• You had a flight disruption due to airline staff strike – these include pilots, cabin crew, airline engineers and airline ground staff

• Your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more or was cancelled less than 14 days before departure

• Your flight departs from the European Union or lands in the EU with an airline based in the EU

• You checked in for your flight on time

• The cancellation or delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control

• You arrived at your final destination with a significant delay of 3 hours or more than your original flight

• Your flight disruption was in the last 2 to 6 years (depending on your flight point of origin)

These regulations protect passengers in the event of strikes that are the responsibility of the airline and guarantee you financial compensation and care services.

What do I need to do in the event of a strike?

If your flight is affected by an airport or airline strike, the first thing to do is to document the flight cancellation. Take photos of the information screen at the gate or save electronic messages as proof. Also note when you will reach your destination with the replacement flight. This evidence will help to prove delays.

Further, you should also:

• Keep receipts for additional costs: If you incur additional expenses due to the strike – for example, for a hotel stay because the airline did not provide accommodation – collect all receipts so that you can claim them later.

• Check your eligibility for a replacement flight: Contact the airline to find out whether you can take a replacement flight. Depending on your personal preference, you can accept the replacement flight or have your original ticket price fully refunded if you do not wish to continue your journey.

• Do not sign any premature waivers: Do not sign any forms or declarations that oblige you to waive your claims before you know exactly what rights and claims you are entitled to.

• Assert your claims with Flightright: After the event, you should actively assert your claims for compensation or reimbursement. Our expert lawyers will support at every step of the way. Plus: We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis!

When am I not eligible for strike compensation?

Unfortunately for air passengers, not every strike entitles you to a ticket refund or compensation claim. EU regulation 261/2004 exempts airlines from their responsibility, if the strikes are beyond their control and are considered as extraordinary circumstances.

The following strike actions are deemed extraordinary circumstances:

• Airport security staff strikes

• Baggage Handler strikes

• Air Traffic Control staff strikes

• Strikes caused by political unrest

Overview: Which strikes are eligible for compensation

Is it possible to get compensation for flight disruption caused by strikes?

Air passengers can receive between €250 and €600 in cases of flight delays, cancellations or overbooking. The exception to the rule is flight disruptions caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances’. In this case, airlines are under no obligation to pay out compensation to customers. Strikes, whether they are carried out by the airport staff or the airline staff, fall under this category, and as such, passengers should not expect to have a valid claim.

However, there are exceptions to this rule, under which the airline may be held liable for damages caused by cancellations, delays or denied boardings. In order for the European Regulation to apply, the flight must have taken off from a European airport, or it must have been operated by a European airline and landed in the European Union. These conditions apply regardless of the ticket price, and also apply to those travelling on business or on package holidays. Your claims are valid up to 6 years retrospectively.

There are some exceptions worth considering:

There are a few important exceptions to consider. Even if your flight is cancelled before or after the official strike period, you may still be entitled to compensation if the disruption results from the strike’s impact. For instance, being denied boarding because your seat was given to a strike-affected passenger can qualify for compensation.

According to the ECJ (C-22/11, 4 Oct 2012), airlines remain liable even for cancellations before a strike begins. Moreover, under ECJ ruling C-74/19 (11 June 2020), airlines must prove they took all reasonable measures to rebook passengers — including on other airlines or alternative transport — before claiming extraordinary circumstances.

How much strike compensation can be claimed?

The amount of compensation caused by the strike will depend on the circumstances in which your flight was either cancelled or delayed.

Airline strike flight cancellation compensation

If your flight was cancelled due to an airline staff strike, you may be entitled to compensation. You qualify if the airline informed you less than 14 days before departure and didn’t offer an alternative flight arriving at a similar time.

Below is an overview of possible compensation amounts under EU Regulation 261/2004. The compensation is only applicable if you choose a replacement flight which incurred a delayed arrival time.

*Minus commission (usually 20 to 30% [if nec. plus attorney’s fee of 14% ] plus VAT) if claimed through our service

Airline strike flight delay compensation

If your flight is heavily impacted by delays due to the airline’s strike actions, you can claim compensation. According to the European Regulation, the allocated amount will depend on the distance of the flight:

• If the flight distance is up to less than 1500 km, the value of the compensation is €250 for a delayed, cancelled flight or overbooked flight.

• If the flight distance is between 1500 km and 3500 km, the value of the compensation is €400 for a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight.

• If the flight distance is greater than 3500 km, the value of compensation is €600 for a flight delay, cancellation or an overbooked flight.

Airline strike flight delay compensation

*Minus commission (usually 20 to 30% [if nec. plus attorney’s fee of 14% ] plus VAT) if claimed through our service

Do I need to go to the airport during a strike?

Yes, you should still check in on time if the strike is expected to be short, as the airline might offer a replacement flight at short notice. If you face a long wait, stay near the gate for updates.

For strikes lasting several days, you can contact the airline in advance to find out when your alternative flight will depart — in that case, you don’t need to appear for your original flight.

Passengers on package tours should check directly with their tour operator about cancellations or rescheduled flights.

Can I take alternative transportation?

Airlines must inform you promptly about cancellations and arrange alternative transport whenever possible, often by rebooking you on flights operated by partner or subsidiary airlines. You can also request a free rebooking yourself or cancel the flight altogether if you prefer not to travel.

The alternatives: bus, train or rental cars

If your domestic flight is cancelled, it may be more convenient to travel by train or bus instead. You can ask the airline to convert your flight ticket for use on a train or bus free of charge, either at the ticket counter or through the airline’s website. If you buy your own ticket, be aware that you may have to pay the price difference if it costs more than your flight. Always keep your flight ticket receipt, and ideally, have the airline issue the replacement ticket before you travel.

Reimbursement for rental cars is not guaranteed and depends on the airline’s agreement — make sure to get any such promise confirmed in writing.

What happens if I miss a connecting flight due to a strike?

If you miss your connecting flight in the EU or with an EU airline due to a strike, the airline operating the first leg of your journey is generally liable. It must:

• offer you alternative transport,

• provide you with care services if necessary, and

• pay compensation if its own staff cause the strike.

In the event of strikes by third parties, such as air traffic controllers, there is no entitlement to lump-sum compensation – but care services such as rebooking, meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation must still be provided.

What happens if my flight is delayed by more than 5 hours?

When a strike delays your flight by 5 hours or more, you have the right to either cancel your trip and receive a full ticket refund or get the airline to book you onto the earliest available replacement flight.

And if my flight is postponed to the next day?

If the strike postpones your flight to the following day, the airline must arrange and cover hotel accommodation as well as transport between the hotel and the airport. Be sure to keep all the receipts so you can claim them for compensation later.

Package holiday affected by strike: What rights do holidaymakers have?

If a package holiday (flight and hotel package) is affected by a strike, you benefit from additional rights:

• Contact your agency or tour operator: They must provide alternative transport.

• Check for a price reduction: If strikes cause significant delays or shorten your trip, you can demand a pro-rata price reduction.

• Secure your own bookings if necessary: If you are not offered alternative transport, you can take action yourself and charge the tour operator for the proven additional costs.

• Claim assistance services: Airlines remain obliged to provide support (meals, hotel, transfers) even for package tours.

However, claims for damages against the tour operator usually only exist if they are responsible for the disruption, e.g. due to a lack of information or poor organisation.

How can I claim my flight strike compensation?

Figuring out whether you qualify for compensation due to an airline strike or airport disruptions can be tricky. Often, airlines will falsely claim that the strike was due to extraordinary circumstances, which exempts them from any reimbursements. Other airlines might ignore customer complaints altogether, leaving you stranded.

Flightright is here to help! With more than 15 years of experience, we have helped millions of air passengers reclaim their rights and compensation. We operate on a “no-win, no-fee” basis and have a success rate of 99%. What are you waiting for? Use our free compensation checker to see, if your flight strike is eligible to make a claim. Simply enter your details below to find out how much compensation you can get.

Current airlines and airports affected by strikes

Are you currently affected by a flight delay or cancellation, and you are not sure whether a strike is the real cause? Find your delayed or cancelled flight in our table and check whether you are entitled to compensation.

Has your flight been cancelled due to a strike?

If a flight is cancelled because the airline personnel are on strike, passengers are entitled to compensation. Flightright is committed to ensuring that you receive your money in such a case.

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Your flight did not go as planned?

In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.

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