Flight cancellations Summer 2024: Were you affected by a flight cancellation or delay?

The summer of 2024 brought unexpected challenges for many travellers. Flight cancellations and delays were commonplace and caused frustration and anger for many. If you were one of those affected by a flight cancellation or delay, you should know your rights and consider possible compensation options. But what rights do passengers have in such cases and how can they secure compensation?

In this blog article, we present the most important information on the topic of “Flight cancellations summer 2023/2024” and show you how you can assert your claims with flightright. We also take a look at the specific case of Mareike, who had already booked her flights for the 2024 summer holidays in advance and was unexpectedly confronted with flight cancellations. Find out how she dealt with the situation and what lessons can be learnt from it.

The term flight cancellation or flight failure

A flight can be an exciting adventure – the anticipation of the destination, the excitement of boarding the aircraft and the relief when the destination is reached. But sometimes this idea can change in a matter of seconds when you are confronted with the term “flight cancellation” or “flight failure“. The terms “flight cancellation”, and “annulment” all mean the same thing: the flight has been cancelled and will not take place. Suddenly, travellers are faced with unexpected obstacles and have to deal with the consequences of an unforeseen interruption to their journey. 

This can happen for various reasons, such as bad weather, technical problems or unforeseen circumstances. If a flight is cancelled, it is usually the airline’s responsibility to find alternative transport for the traveller or offer a refund. In short, a flight cancellation is when the flight is not operated as planned or not at all.

Are flights cancelled in summer?

Flights are often cancelled in the summer. Various factors such as weather conditions, technical problems or even strikes can lead to flight schedules having to be adjusted. However, airlines usually try to keep their passengers as well informed as possible and offer alternative flights. It is therefore advisable to regularly check the status of your booked flight.

Which flights were cancelled in summer 2023?

A large number of flights were cancelled in summer 2023. Eurowings and Lufthansa recorded rapidly increasing numbers in summer 2023. Around 20 per cent of flights in the month of July had to be cancelled on weekend days from Friday to Sunday. On 21.06.2023, Eurowings announced further cancellations at short notice, affecting around 90 flights, all from Cologne Bonn and Düsseldorf. Other airlines such as Swiss and KLM were also affected in some cases.

Flights operated by Ryanair, Lauda Air and Easyjet were also cancelled on 24 June 2023 due to staff shortages and overworked employees. Easyjet cabin crew had announced a strike that affected various routes from Germany to Mallorca, particularly on the weekends of 1 to 3, 15 to 17 and 29 to 31 July.

Airline Cancellation Ranking

In our airline cancellation ranking for the last 12 months, you can see which airlines have cancelled how many planned flights. The 20 airlines with the most cancellations are listed. The ranking is based on the ratio of cancelled flights to all planned flights and is sorted according to this criterion.

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Flight cancelled – summer 2024: This is how it went for Mareike 

1. The problem / initial situation

Mareike had finally booked her dream holiday from Frankfurt to Mallorca for summer 2024. However, after months of anticipation, she received a cold message from the airline just two days before her planned departure: Her flight was cancelled.

Mareike was unsure what to do and was caught off guard by the sudden news. With time running out and few alternatives, it seemed as if her big plans had come to an unexpected and dramatic halt. She had planned so much for this holiday: to attend the wedding she had been invited to, meet up with friends again, read something on the Mallorcan coast or discover something new on the Balearic Islands. All of these things disappeared faster than she could have realised after such a long wait.

2. The challenge: stress with the airline in the event of flight cancellations

Mareike decided to contact the airline to find out what she could do. However, the process was extremely stressful and time-consuming. The airline’s customer service was difficult to reach, and when she finally got someone on the phone, she was burdened with a lot of paperwork. Despite her best efforts to get a clear answer, she was left without a satisfactory solution.

3. The alternative: booking a flight with another airline

As Mareike was invited to a wedding in Mallorca, she had to find an alternative flight so as not to miss the event. After receiving no solution from the original airline, she finally decided to book a new flight with another airline. Mareike was prepared to pay a little more for a new flight to ensure that she would arrive in Mallorca on time and not miss the wedding. Although it was more expensive than her original flight, she didn’t want to cancel her plans and decided to go ahead with her holiday despite everything.

4. The solution: Flightright comes into play – ticket refund and flight cancellation compensation

Flightright effectively assisted Mareike in claiming a refund of her ticket price and additional compensation from the airline. As the leading air passenger rights platform, Flightright played a crucial role in helping Mareike in both cases.

Mareike first contacted Flightright.de to check her claim for a refund of the ticket price. By providing relevant flight details such as name, flight number, date of travel and destination, Flightright was able to assess the circumstances of her flight cancellation. This saved Mareike a lot of time and effort, as she could simply submit the documents online to Flightright.de. Another big advantage of Flightright was that they only charged her fee when Mareike received her money. This meant she didn’t have to worry about additional expenses if she didn’t receive compensation. In addition, Flightright provided regular updates on the status of Mareike’s case and answered all her questions. This gave Mareike peace of mind, as she knew she was always up to date. 

Thanks to the free online calculator, Flightright was able to determine whether Mareike was entitled to a refund, which is often the case when a flight is cancelled, overbooked or significantly delayed by the airline. Once Flightright validated Mareike’s claim, they took over communication with the airline on her behalf and requested a refund of Mareike’s ticket price. By actively pursuing the progress of the case and negotiating with the airline, Flightright was able to secure an appropriate refund for Mareike. Flightright handled Mareike’s entire claim, from inception to receipt of compensation.

In addition to refunding the ticket price, Flightright helped Mareike to obtain compensation from the airline. Taking into account the UK261 Regulation, Flightright re-checked Mareike’s flight details to determine whether she was entitled to compensation. Once the claim was confirmed, Flightright took further legal action and negotiated on Mareike’s behalf to obtain compensation for the inconvenience and time spent due to the flight cancellation.

Thanks to Flightright’s dedicated support, Mareike was successful in obtaining both a refund of the ticket price and additional compensation. Flightright made the process easy and stress-free for her.

Flight chaos – Why are flights cancelled?

Flights can be cancelled for a variety of reasons, such as bad weather, technical problems, strikes or even political unrest. In some cases, flights can also be cancelled due to overbooking, when an airline has sold more tickets than it has seats on the plane. In any case, it is important to find out about the airline’s conditions and possible cancellations in advance to avoid unforeseen circumstances.

Flight cancellations summer 2024: Your rights as a passenger

Summertime is travel time, but what happens if the flight you have booked is cancelled? Especially in the current situation, there may be an increase in flight cancellations. However, as a passenger, you have certain rights that you can invoke under the UK261 Regulation. Below you can find out what you can do if your flight is cancelled and what rights you are entitled to.

• Right to an alternative flight or ticket refund: The airline must either offer you an alternative flight connection to your destination or refund the ticket price.
• According to the UK261 Regulation, you are entitled to compensation if the airline has informed you of the flight cancellation less than 14 days in advance.
• Amount of compensation: The amount of flight cancellation compensation depends on the circumstances and varies depending on the flight route. It can be between 220 and 520 pounds per person.
• Right to benefits in the event of long waiting times: If there are significant waiting times at the airport, you are entitled to utilities such as food, drinks, communication facilities and, if necessary, accommodation.
• If the alternative flight does not depart until the next day, the airline is obliged to pay for your overnight stay in a middle-class hotel and the transfer there. If you have to wait several nights until another flight departs, the airline must also pay for several nights’ accommodation in a hotel.

Affected by the flight cancellations in summer 2024: What to do and how do I get my compensation?

• Short-distance flight delays – up to 1500 km – could entitle you to £220 Compensation
• Medium distance flight delays – between 1500 km and 3500 km – could entitle you to £350 Compensation
• Long-distance flight delays – over 3500 km – could entitle you to £520 Compensation

According to the UK261 Regulation, the amount of compensation is calculated according to the flight route:

Flight cancellations in summer 2024 – Will I get compensation if my flight was cancelled in summer 2024? To determine whether you are entitled to compensation due to a flight delay or cancellation, you can use Flightright’s free compensation calculator. To do this, you need to go to the Flightright website and enter the information about your affected flight, such as your flight number, the affected route, the flight date and the reason for the delay or cancellation.

The compensation calculator will then tell you whether you are entitled to compensation and how much it could be. If you are entitled to compensation, you can instruct Flightright to claim compensation from the airline concerned on your behalf.

Flightright will take all the necessary steps for you, such as communicating with the airline and, if the airline refuses to pay the compensation, filing a lawsuit. If Flightright is successful, the compensation will be paid to you after deduction of a commission (usually 20 to 30 % plus VAT). However, if the company is unsuccessful, you will not be charged any costs. However, our success rate is currently around 99%.

Flight cancellations summer 2024: Where can I check if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Am I affected by the flight cancellations? There are various ways to find out whether you are affected:

• They should have received an email from their airline or your tour operator.
• If you have not received an email but are concerned, visit your airline’s website. If you have a customer account, you can take a closer look at your flights here.
• If you don’t have an account with the airline you’re flying with, it’s best to search for your flight on their website. You will need either the flight number or the booking number and your name.

Our tip: If you want to know whether your flight has been cancelled or delayed, you can use Flightright’s historical flight data. To do this, go to the Flightright website and search for the “Current flight delays and cancellations” section. Enter your flight details (departure airport, airline and date). You will then receive all relevant information about your flight, such as delays or cancellations, and can check directly whether you are entitled to compensation for your flight. 

Current flight delays and cancellations

Which airports are most affected by staff shortages? 

Staff shortages at airports are a problem that manifests itself in parts of the world. However, some airports are particularly affected by this problem. In the US, airports such as Miami International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) have reported staff shortages in recent years. In Europe, airports such as Frankfurt Airport (FRA), London-Heathrow Airport (LHR), Brussels Airport (BRU), Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (AMS), Munich Airport (MUC) and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport have been affected. Airports in Australia, such as Sydney Airport, have also had problems with staff shortages in the past. This can lead to longer waiting times at security checkpoints and passenger check-in, which can often be frustrating for air travellers.

Which flight delay was the longest in the chaos of 2022?

On 20 August, TUIfly Nederland passengers reached the Antilles island of Bonaire with a delay of 17 hours and 26 minutes. The reason for this was the cancellation of the original flight from Amsterdam. It was not a great start to the holiday.

Tips for a smooth stay at the airport

An airport layover can be stressful, but with a few simple tips, you can make your stay as smooth as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Arrive early – Get there early: allow enough time to get through security and check-in. It’s better to arrive a little too early than too late to minimise stress.
• Familiarise yourself online in advance: Check the status of your flight and the airport’s rules and regulations online. This way you know exactly what is allowed and what is not.
• Use online check-in: Many airlines offer online check-in, which allows you to receive your boarding pass and seat reservation in advance. This saves time and stress at the airport.
• Free pre-evening check-in: Some airports also offer free pre-evening check-in services where you can drop off your baggage the day before your flight. This can help avoid long queues at the airport check-in desk.
• Pack smart: Avoid having liquids or items in your hand luggage that are not allowed. Place your electronic devices and liquids separately in your bag for quick and easy unpacking.
• Wear comfortable clothing: Choose clothes that are comfortable and easy to wear. Avoid shoes with laces, which can take up a lot of time during the security check.
• Stay organised: Make sure you always have your documents, passport and boarding pass to hand. Use a bag or backpack to keep everything organised.
• Explore the airport: Take your time to explore the airport and familiarise yourself with the different areas. This will help you get to your gate quickly and know where to find food and drink.

By following these tips, you can make your airport experience as smooth as possible and look forward to a relaxing journey.

Flight cancellations summer 2024: Was your flight also delayed or even cancelled?

Then you may be entitled to compensation. Flightright will be happy to help you assert your claims against the airline. Start by checking your case here free of charge.

This topic could also interest you: When can you fly solo?
What to consider when travelling as a group.
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