Compensation for passengers in the event of a strike by aircraft maintenance technicians
According to European Union Regulation CE No. 261/2004, financial compensation for delayed or canceled flights is only possible if the airline is responsible.
This means that in the case of a strike by maintenance agents, who are part of the carrier’s ground staff, we consider that this is an internal strike within the company, and that it is obliged to compensate its passengers for the damage suffered, under certain conditions…
The flight route :
The route and nationality of the air carrier are important for any compensation claim. To find out if they are affected by the European regulation.
It is therefore possible to claim compensation if :
- The flight is operated by a European airline and takes off and/or lands at a European airport.
- The flight is operated by a non-European airline and takes off from a European airport.
The amount of compensation :
The amount of compensation is set by EC Regulation No. 261/2004, it varies depending on the journey to be made:
- €250 : for plane journeys of less than 1500 km.
- €400 : for plane journeys between 1500 and 3500 km and for intercommunity journeys of more than 3500 km.
- €600 : for plane journeys of more than 3,500 km.
For canceled flights or missed connections, if the company does not offer you a replacement flight, you can also request a refund of your ticket, in addition to compensation.
Passenger support :
Whether responsible or not, the airline must provide the following services to its passengers, even in the event of a strike by maintenance agents:
From 2 hours of waiting : Snacks and drinks as well as 2 phone calls or sending 2 emails.
Beyond 5 hours of waiting : passengers have the right to cancel their reservations and obtain a refund of their tickets.
If the flight is postponed until the next day : the airline must provide accommodation for passengers, with round-trip transportation from the airport to the hotel.
Claiming compensation :
It often happens that due to a strike by maintenance technicians, you find your plane grounded. This situation being an internal strike at the airline, it gives the right to compensation of up to 600 euros.
To claim this financial compensation, you can contact the company directly, or go through an intermediary, an expert in the field of air transport, who will take care of all the necessary procedures in order to assert your rights.