Airline Strike Compensation Rights: How to Claim

When an EU or a non-EU airline’s staff or crew goes on strike, it often results in heavy flight disruptions. If you experienced delays due to airline strikes and were traveling to or from the EU, you may be entitled to up to €600.

Flight disrupted due to an airline strike? You may be eligible for compensation.

Am I eligible for airline strike compensation?

When am I eligible for flight strike compensation?

You could be eligible if:

• You had a flight disrupted by an airline staff strike.
• Your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, or canceled less than 14 days before departure.
• Your flight took off in the EU, or landed at an EU airport.
• You had a confirmed flight reservation.
• The disruption occurred within the last 3 years.
• If you took a replacement flight, your new arrival time was significantly different to your original flight.

Airline staff strikes involve employees of the airline carrier (pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and other employees). Under EC 261, airlines must compensate passengers for disruptions they are responsible for — including airline staff strikes.

EU courts have clarified that airline employee strikes qualify for compensation because the airline is responsible for its own staff.

When am I not eligible for strike compensation?

You are not eligible if it’s a strike the airline has no control over (extraordinary circumstances), such as:

• Strikes by airport security staff
• Strikes by baggage handlers
• Strikes by air traffic management staff
• Strikes caused by political unrest

Check your eligibility

Not sure whether your flight qualifies? Enter your flight details to see if you qualify and how much you may be entitled to.

How much strike compensation am I entitled to?

If your flight qualifies for compensation due to a disruption caused by an airline staff strike, you may be entitled to up to €600 depending on your case.

Airline Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation

If your flight was canceled due to a strike, you may qualify if the airline notified you less than 14 days before the flight and couldn’t offer a replacement that arrived at a similar time.

Airline Strike Flight Delay Compensation

You are eligible for compensation if your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more.

Denied Boarding Compensation

During a strike, there may be instances where you are denied boarding due to overbooking. If you are denied boarding against your will, you may be entitled to compensation.

Airline Strike Compensation: Know Your Rights

What am I entitled to?

Right to care

• Meals and refreshments during the delay
• Access to communications (2 calls, fax messages, emails)
• Overnight accommodation plus transport to/from the airport if needed

Can I rebook my flight?

If your flight has been canceled or delayed more than 5 hours, you can withdraw and receive a full refund. You also have the choice to take an alternative flight offered by the airline.

What about past strikes?

The ruling that airline staff strikes are not extraordinary circumstances is retrospective — flights affected by past strikes as far back as 3 years ago may qualify for compensation.

Common questions about strike compensation

Why FlyCompense?

• Works with lawyers in 30+ countries.
• Uses modern technology to pursue each claim.
• Takes the stress out of the claim process.
• Operates on a no win, no fee basis.
• Fights for passenger rights.

Flight disruption due to airline strikes does happen, and it is your right to receive compensation if you are affected. We handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.