Greece flight crisis - Who will pay for cancellations and delays? What passengers need to know
An unprecedented communication outage at the Athens-Macedonia Area Control Center (KEPATHM) paralyzed Greek air transport on Sunday morning, causing disruptions in national airspace for nearly 40 minutes.
Thousands of passengers from a total of 2,800 flights were stranded for hours at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, Thessaloniki Airport and other major airports.
The crucial issue that arises concerns who will bear the cost of the disruption. The competent minister stressed that "passengers are entitled to compensation for cancellations and delays", while "air carriers are also entitled to a similar claim". Under the current framework, a single mechanism is activated through which airlines pay a flat-rate compensation to passengers and are then reimbursed by the state.
Based on European passenger rights legislation, the first point of contact for passengers is always the company operating the flight. It must offer options for refunds, or alternative transport, as well as care benefits, such as food, communication or accommodation, depending on the length of the wait.
Fixed compensation for cancellations or delays can reach up to 600 euros, depending on the distance of the flight. However, European law provides for an exemption from the obligation to pay compensation if it is proven that the cause was due to extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided. Obligations to care for and support passengers remain in force, even in cases of force majeure, which is particularly important when the wait is prolonged.
Passengers can submit a written request for a refund, or flight change. If they consider that their rights have not been respected, they have the possibility to appeal to the competent national law enforcement body.
From the airline's perspective, the right to seek legal assistance concerns legal protection against third parties or service providers, if there is fault that has caused financial damage. Although this is not an automatic state compensation, the case could lead to significant financial claims against the State, depending on the findings of the technical and judicial investigations.
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