When flights are cancelled or delayed, passengers have rights to refunds, re-routing, care and in some cases compensation An Aer Lingus plane over Heathrow. Photo: Getty Ryanair passengers. Photo: Getty Planes at Cork Airport during Storm Emma in 2018.
Photo: Cork Airport/Twitter Passenger rights. Source: IAA Delays and cancellations are part and parcel of modern air travel, with a work-to-rule by Aer Lingus pilots looking likely to impact passengers, and French air traffic control strikes already having caused Ryanair flight cancellations this summer. So what exactly are your rights if your flight is affected? The rights of passengers in the event of cancelled or delayed flights are set out under EU Regulation 261/2014 .
In the event of a strike or cancellation, airlines should contact affected passengers by email or SMS. You can also check the airline website (under the 'manage my booking' section), and your airport's online departures boards. If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between: What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? In the event of a cancellation or delay, airlines are obliged to inform passengers of their options.
If this happens at the airport, staff should be on hand to talk you through the various scenarios. Otherwise, the quickest option is to check your carrier's website ( Aer Lingus and Ryanair ). It should include the steps to process your own refunds or bookings.
