EU261 Catania airport fire July 2023

[VPS]

Hi - some friends are trying to work out whether they have a claim under EU261 when their flight was delayed.

The insurance company paid for the extra accommodation (but no extra meals) but would the fire at the Catania airport be considered an extraordinary circumstance. Their flight was with Fly Dubai

Catania airport: Terminal reopens but airlines struggle to catch up

Travel in Sicily is slowly returning to normal after three weeks of chaos.

www.euronews.com

 

[kelvedon]

Hi - some friends are trying to work out whether they have a claim under EU261 when their flight was delayed.

The insurance company paid for the extra accommodation (but no extra meals) but would the fire at the Catania airport be considered an extraordinary circumstance. Their flight was with Fly Dubai

Catania airport: Terminal reopens but airlines struggle to catch up

Travel in Sicily is slowly returning to normal after three weeks of chaos.

www.euronews.com

EU 261 does not cover extraordinary circumstances or events that could not be avoided under reasonable circumstances.
I would imagine an airport fire would be considered extraordinary event.

 

[VPS]

EU 261 does not cover extraordinary circumstances or events that could not be avoided under reasonable circumstances.
I would imagine an airport fire would be considered extraordinary event.

I thought so but they should still get a meal allowance from their insurance company.

Thanks

 

[serfty]

EU 261 does not cover extraordinary circumstances or events that could not be avoided under reasonable circumstances.
I would imagine an airport fire would be considered extraordinary event.

EU 261 does not provide for compensation in relation to flight delays caused by extraordinary circumstances or events that could not be avoided under reasonable circumstances.

EU 261 does provide for right to care for flight delays irrespective of the cause.

Such right to care (or duty of care) includes provision for various elements caused by a delayed flight such as meals, accommodation, transport, even telephone calls.

Article 9
Right to care
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered free of charge:
(a) meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time;
(b) hotel accommodation in cases
- where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, or
- where a stay additional to that intended by the passenger becomes necessary;
(c) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other).
2. In addition, passengers shall be offered free of charge two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.
3. In applying this Article, the operating air carrier shall pay particular attention to the needs of persons with reduced mobility and any persons accompanying them, as well as to the needs of unaccompanied children.

EUR-Lex - 32004R0261 - EN

 

[VPS]

EU 261 does not provide for compensation for flight delays caused by extraordinary circumstances or events that could not be avoided under reasonable circumstances.

EU 261 does provide for right to care for flight delays irrespective of the cause.

Such right (duty of) to care includes provision for various elements caused by a delayed flight such as meals, accomodation, transport, even telephone calls.

EUR-Lex - 32004R0261 - EN

thanks for the detail