Airport strike: Air travellers have these rights and claims

Airport strikes are one of the biggest annoyances for air passengers, who often wait for hours and remain uncertain as to whether their flight will take off on schedule or not. In this context, it is important to know what rights and entitlements passengers have in the event of a strike at the airport. It is also crucial to know whether your airport is affected by a strike and how to find out this information.

In this blog article, you will learn everything you need to know about the topic of “airport strikes” – so that you are well informed in the event of a strike and can enforce your rights as a passenger. Our aim is to help you so that you can organise your trip as smoothly as possible.

Strike at the airport – the most common reasons

Why do airports go on strike? Airport employees can strike for various reasons, for example over working conditions, salaries, staff appointments and collective bargaining or other employee demands. However, strikes can also take place due to external factors such as severe weather conditions or technical problems in air traffic.

• Collective bargaining
• Working conditions
• Personnel problems
• Security concerns
• Restructuring
• Irregular working hours

There are many other reasons why a strike may occur at the airport. In general, these strikes can have a significant impact on passengers, as they can lead to flight cancellations, delays and inconvenience.

What happens if there is a strike at the airport?

If there is a strike at the airport, there may be flight cancellations, delays, rebookings or changes to the flight schedule. Passengers should therefore check whether their flight is affected before travelling and inform themselves in good time if necessary.

Is my airport affected by the strike? How to find out

If you want to know whether your airport is affected by a strike, there are several ways to find out. One is to visit the airport’s website for the latest information on flight operations. Another option is to call the airport directly and enquire about the impact of the strike on flight operations. Alternatively, you can visit the website of the airline you are travelling with to find out if your flight is affected. If ground staff or pilots are on strike, some airlines offer the option of being notified by text message.

Current flight delays and cancellations

You can find current flight cancellations and delays in our table and use our free compensation calculator to check directly whether you are entitled to compensation for your flight.

What happens if the flight is cancelled due to a strike?

If a flight is cancelled due to a strike, affected passengers are entitled to alternative transport to their destination or a refund of the ticket price. The choice between these two options is up to the passenger. If the airline offers alternative transport, this should take place as soon as possible and under comparable conditions to the originally booked flight. The airline is also obliged to provide passengers with appropriate catering and accommodation, if necessary, until alternative transport is possible.

It is important to note that passengers on flights departing or arriving within the European Union (EU) or on flights from an EU country to a third country where the airline is based in the EU may also be entitled to compensation in addition to the right to alternative transport or a refund of the ticket price. However, this depends on various factors such as the flight distance and the duration of the delay.

What happens to my flight ticket if there is a strike at the airport?

If a flight is cancelled due to a strike at the airport, passengers are usually entitled to a refund of the ticket price or alternative transport to their final destination. If a passenger decides to cancel the ticket because the flight is cancelled or significantly delayed due to a strike at the airport, they may be able to claim a full refund of the ticket price. It is important to note that this may vary depending on the type of ticket and the relevant booking conditions.

Airport strikes: do passengers have alternatives?

As a rule, passengers are entitled to a refund of the ticket or can have the flight rebooked to a later date. In some cases, passengers may also be entitled to choose an alternative flight route or take another flight at a later time or even to another nearby airport if this is the best option.

Airport strike: who should I contact? The tour operator or the airline?

In principle, you have claims against both the tour operator and the airline in the event of flight delays or cancellations. However, the compensation you receive from the airline can be offset by the tour operator when reducing the price of the trip. Flightright recommends claiming your compensation directly from the airline in the event of a flight delay of more than three hours or a cancellation. The UK261 Regulation binds the airline to certain regulations that grant you as an air traveller extensive rights and allow for compensation of up to £520 (minus a success commission).

Even if you are in the right, it can happen that airlines ignore claims. However, Flightright will be happy to assist you and can help you with legal experts in the complicated bureaucratic process of asserting your claim with the airline.

What happens if security staff go on strike?

If security staff go on strike, this can lead to significant delays and cancellations of flights, as flights cannot be operated without security checks. In this case, however, passengers cannot receive compensation directly from the airline, as the strike is considered an extraordinary circumstance over which the airline has no control.

However, the airline is obliged to do everything possible to minimise the impact of the strike on passengers. This includes, for example, the provision of information on the status of flights, assistance with rebooking flights or the provision of meals and accommodation in the event of longer delays or cancellations. As a rule, passengers are entitled to these assistance services in accordance with the UK261 regulation.

What to do if there is a strike at airports?

What do I do if my flight is cancelled due to a strike? If your flight is cancelled due to a strike, there are a few steps you can take to manage your situation:

• Ask the airline to confirm the reason for the delay or cancellation in writing
• Ask the airline about possible alternative transport
• Insist on pension benefits and keep all receipts
• Determine your claim with our compensation calculator

Long waiting times due to a strike at the airport: what exactly are you entitled to?

If you are at the departure airport and waiting for your flight, you can make a claim for care services in the event of a delay or cancellation. The benefits to which you are entitled depend on the route. However, there are certain regulations that must be adhered to.

• Short-haul up to 1,500 km: free drinks, snack, e-mails, fax and two phone calls from two hours waiting time
• Medium distance 1,500 – 3,500 km: free drinks, meals and two phone calls, e-mails or faxes from a waiting time of three hours
• Long haul from 3,500 km: free drinks, meals and two phone calls, emails or faxes from four hours delay onwards

If your flight is postponed to the next day, the airline is obliged under the UK261 Passenger Rights Regulation to organise hotel accommodation for you as well as transport to the hotel and back to the airport.

Airport strike: who will take care of alternative transport?

If there is a disruption to flight operations due to a strike at the airport, the airlines are generally responsible for organising alternative transport. They must comply with the UK Passenger Rights Regulation, which sets out certain rules for flight cancellations and delays. As a rule, airlines try to rebook their passengers on other flights or organise alternative means of transport such as buses or trains.

However, it is important to note that this is not always possible immediately and delays may occur. It is therefore advisable to contact the airline concerned directly to obtain information and, if necessary, to arrange alternative transport yourself.

My flight is cancelled due to a strike – who pays for the damage?

If your flight is cancelled due to a strike by air or ground staff, the question quickly arises as to who will pay for the damage. Even if there is no direct financial loss, the principle of “time is money” usually applies. According to the UK Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to £520 in the event of overbooking, flight cancellations and long delays.

However, if a strike is the cause of the flight cancellation, passengers are not normally entitled to compensation. However, there are some specific exceptions to this rule. As a rule of thumb, you should check whether the original strike at the airport preceded your flight cancellation or delay. This is because the effects of a strike outside of the actual strike phase may be subject to compensation under certain conditions.

Who pays for flight cancellations in the event of an airport strike?

If a flight is cancelled due to a strike at the airport, the airline must offer the affected passengers alternative transport or a refund of the flight price. If the airline offers alternative transport and the passenger accepts this, they are generally not entitled to any further compensation.

However, if you are not offered a suitable alternative and the flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation, provided the reason for the flight cancellation or delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances. If consumers are entitled to compensation – for example because airline staff are on strike – the amount of financial compensation depends on the distance. In this case, travellers can claim compensation for flight cancellations or delays caused by strikes at the airport, which can amount to up to 520 pounds per person, depending on the flight route (flight distance).

Flight cancelled or delayed: compensation is possible – up to 520 pounds

If a flight is cancelled or delayed, passengers are generally entitled to compensation. However, the airline may be exempt from paying compensation in exceptional circumstances. These circumstances include events beyond the airline’s control, such as a strike.

However, the experts at Flightright.co.uk emphasise that in the case of strikes, each individual case must be examined individually to determine whether exceptional circumstances actually exist.

Strike at the airport: entitlement to compensation – these conditions apply

• The airline staff are on strike (e.g. pilots or cabin crew)
• The flight does not take off or takes off late – for example, if the aircraft has a defect
• The flight does not arrive at the destination airport on time (at least three hours late)
• The strike was no longer than six years ago

How much compensation can I get?

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

*Less commission (usually 20 to 30% plus VAT)

Affected by the strike at London Heathrow Airport or London Luton Airport? Use our free compensation calculator to check whether you can receive compensation or a refund for your problem flight and instruct Flightright to enforce your claim conveniently online. Check your flight now!