United States – Europe Flight Cancellation/Delay Litigation

Cafferty Faucher LLP is prosecuting cases against airlines that service Europe and owe passengers reimbursement or compensation for flights which were canceled or delayed by more than three (3) hours.  According to complaints filed in the litigation, European Union regulations require airlines to compensate or reimburse passengers whose flights are either canceled or delayed more than three (3) hours for reasons like mechanical issues on the part of the airline.  The complaints allege that the pertinent regulation, European Union Regulation 261, requires the airline company to reimburse or compensate travelers the following amounts:

• For canceled or delayed flights from the United States to Europe (or Europe to the United States), the reimbursement amount is 600 Euro.

• For canceled or delayed flights within Europe, the reimbursement amount is 400 Euro for flights more than 1500 kilometers and 250 Euro for all flights of 1500 kilometers or less.

• For canceled or delayed flights from a European Union country to another country that is not a member of the European Union, the reimbursement amount is 600 Euro for flights more than 3500 kilometers, 400 Euro for flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometers, and 250 Euro for flights of 1500 kilometers or less.

The regulation does not apply to all countries in Europe. It only applies to flights where the origin or destination is within a European Union (also known as the “EU”) country.  The European Union or EU member countries include England, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Poland, Sweeden, and many others.

According to the lawsuit, for example, a passenger whose Iberia Airlines flight from Chicago to Madrid, Spain was either canceled or delayed by more than three (3) hours would be entitled to reimbursement or compensation of 600 Euro under the regulation.  Similarly, if British Airways canceled or delayed by more than three (3) hours a flight from Chicago to London, it would be required to reimburse or compensate passengers 600 Euro under the regulation.  The regulation also applies to airlines based in the United States, such as United or American, as long as they cancel or delay a flight to or from a EU country.

For more information please contact our Chicago office at 312-782-4880.