Luftfahrt-Bundesamt

Information on air passenger rights in the event of a strike

Date 2023.03.24

Against the background of current strikes in air transport, the LBA would like to draw attention to the application of air passenger rights.


According to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, air carriers are obliged to provide care and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellations, denied boarding and delays. This applies in the event of flight disruptions on flights within the European Union (EU) and on flights operated by European airlines from third countries to destinations in the EU.

In the event of flight cancellation or denied boarding, passengers have the choice between full reimbursement of ticket costs and re-routing to their final destination. In the event of a flight delay of more than five hours, affected passengers can choose not to be carried and have their ticket costs reimbursed. Air carriers must also provide passengers with assistance in reasonable proportion to the waiting time. This may also include hotel accommodation. Assistance is not required in cases where passengers have agreed to full reimbursement of their ticket costs.

Under certain conditions, in the event of cancellations and arrival delays of more than three hours, there is also provision for the payment of a lump-sum compensation. However, there is no right to this compensation if the cancellation or delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the air carrier. Whether extraordinary circumstances exist is to be examined in each individual case.

We recommend that affected passengers find out in a timely manner on the homepage or at the customer centre of the respective air carrier whether their flight is affected and what options exist for alternative transport to their final destination. Passengers who have booked a package tour should contact their tour operator. Passengers who did not receive assistance from the air carrier and had to provide for themselves are advised to keep receipts and invoices and claim the costs from the carrier afterwards.

Claims based on Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 have to be asserted directly by the passengers with the operating air carrier after the affected flight.

If claims are rejected by the air carrier or if the air carrier has not decided on the claims within two months, the passengers concerned have the possibility of enforcing their claims free of charge by contacting the conciliation body SÖP or the official conciliation board at the Federal Office of Justice, in addition to taking legal action. Further information on conciliation in air transport and the responsibilities of the aforementioned conciliation bodies can be found on our homepage.

Passengers can also file a complaint with the LBA as the enforcement and complaints body for Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. Please note, however, that the LBA is not authorised to assert civil claims of individual passengers against air carriers. For this, affected passengers should use the aforementioned possibilities of conciliation or civil legal action.

Important note

Please note that the regulation does not apply if the flight is operated without disruptions and passengers miss their flight due to strike-related delays at security checks. Security checks are the responsibility of the Federal Police or companies contracted by them. The airlines have no influence on delays at the controls. 

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