Climate activists glued themselves to the runways of two German airports on Thursday morning – paralyzing air traffic in Hamburg and Düsseldorf. The result: numerous flight cancellations and delays. And right on time for the start of the holiday. But what rights do passengers have in such a case? We answer the most important questions at a glance.
The airline usually informs passengers in good time if a flight is cancelled. In the case of a climate protest, however, it can happen that the flight is unexpectedly canceled. It is therefore worth proactively approaching your airline and finding out more if the departure airport for the planned trip is affected by the protest. The easiest way is to call the airline’s hotline, but sometimes the information is also available on the website. If you have booked a package tour, it is best to contact your tour operator.
In principle, according to the Air Passenger Rights Ordinance, passengers have the right to a refund of their ticket price or alternative transport to their destination. Whether there is a claim to additional compensation is another question: “The protests by climate activists of the “last generation” are in all probability an extraordinary circumstance, since the airlines are not themselves to blame for the resulting flight cancellations,” says Claudia Brosche, passenger rights expert in a communication from Flightright. If passengers choose alternative transport to their destination, the airline is still obliged to take them to their destination as quickly as possible. They can also use flights from other airlines or buses and trains. Those who prefer to have the ticket price back wants, he has to take care of himself to go on vacation.
In principle, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros for a delay of three hours or more. This regulation also applies to short-term cancellations. However, the airline can invoke extraordinary circumstances in the case of the climate protests. In that case, it is not obliged to pay any additional compensation, provided that it can prove that it has tried everything to prevent the cancellation or delay. “The airline has to explain that it was not possible to rebook individual passengers on a faster connection,” says Claudia Brosche.
If not the airline itself, but the security staff at the airport is delayed because of the climate protests, then the situation changes for passengers. In this case, according to the consumer advice center, you can only try to assert claims for compensation against the state. Because the security personnel belong to the federal police and thus to the state. If you have booked a package tour, you can also have your tour operator organize a replacement flight. In this case, the organizer is responsible for ensuring that the traveler arrives at their destination. Brosche explains: “There probably won’t be any claims against the airport. Because the airport is likely to be liable only in extreme disregard of security regulations, which is not to be expected on a regular basis.”
What:Flightright
