As long as the airspace over Ukraine remains closed, the issue of flight delays and cancellations is a very acute concern for anyone planning to travel to or from Ukraine. Find out what rights passengers have when a flight is delayed and how to get compensation from the carrier

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In recent months, there has been a lot of talk in Ukraine about the possible opening of airspace over certain regions, but so far the route of Ukrainians and foreigners heading to the state includes several types of transport. Most of the flights are currently carried out by passengers through European airports. However, when planning a complex route, it is worth remembering that there is always a risk of flight delays or even cancellations. 

How big is this problem, what are the reasons and what to do if your flight is delayed or canceled? Let's talk further. 

How often is a flight delayed or canceled? 

There are 30,647 flights in Europe every day, of which 10,000-12,000 flights are delayed. Usually, the idle period is short - about 15 minutes on average, but there are cases when passengers have to wait much longer for their boarding. 

Also, when planning the flight schedule, airlines can cancel certain flights, in particular, European carriers cancel 2,000 flights every day. As a rule, passengers are warned about this less than two weeks before the scheduled departure date, but there are also emergencies that tourists should be prepared for. The good news is that passengers are entitled to compensation in such circumstances.

Which European airports have the most frequent flight delays?

Lisbon and Frankfurt demonstrated the lowest on-time departure rates among Europe's largest airports last year. Only 54% of flights from Lisbon left on time, and only 56% of planes from Frankfurt. In terms of punctuality, the Paris airport was in third place, London Gatwick took the fourth place, and the Amsterdam Schiphol rounded out the top five.

The most punctual European airports have become airports in Oslo and Madrid. There are minimal delays, both during departures and arrivals. 

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Why are flights delayed? Top 10 most popular reasons

Most often, your flight is delayed for one of the following reasons: 

1. Traffic jams.

2. Airline disruptions.  

3. Adverse weather conditions.

4. Collision with birds.

5. Late arrival of the aircraft that will be used for the flight from the previous flight.

6. Strikes or lack of personnel at the airport.

7. Waiting for connecting passengers or their luggage. 

8. Technical problems with the aircraft.

9. Absence of key crew members or unwellness of pilots. 

10. Insufficient number of passengers. 

However, it should be borne in mind that passengers can only expect compensation if the delay was caused by the airline. 

How do flight delays affect passengers? 

First of all, a flight delay or cancellation has a negative effect on the emotional state of passengers - it causes feelings of anger, frustration and even rage.  

Also, these are additional financial expenses, for example, for buying food or drinks at the airport. If the wait becomes longer, tourists often rent a hotel room to rest. Some are even forced to change the planned route and buy additional tickets.  

A flight delay can be especially costly for business travelers as they miss scheduled meetings and are unable to fulfill their obligations. 

Unfortunately, no traveler is immune from these additional inconveniences and financial costs. 

Can I get compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? 

However, the good news is that all flights within the EU are subject to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, regardless of where the carrier's headquarters are located.It requires airlines to pay a one-time compensation of 250 to 600 euros to each affected passenger if a flight is canceled at short notice or delayed more than three hours after arrival.

How to get compensation for a delayed or canceled flight?

Almost 98% of companies refund money or provide certain privileges in case of flight delay or cancellation. However, the compensation payment procedure is quite complicated. There are cases when the procedure for submitting a request and disbursing funds can take several years. In this case, passengers often lose the desire to demand compensation or banally forget about the filed lawsuit. 

Therefore, in order to increase their chances of receiving financial compensation, knowledgeable travelers turn to special companies that specialize in communication with air carriers. Skycop is one of the most experienced mediators in Ukraine. 

How does it work? When a flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked, the passenger can contact the company, and it will do everything it can to ensure that the person receives compensation and reimbursement for additional expenses. The main advantage is that you do not need to pay anything in advance, the intermediary companies take a commission only if the airline agrees to the refund. If the airline refuses to compensate the passenger for damages, then the service (negotiations with the carrier, etc.) will be free for you.

Now that you have become more aware of the possible risks that occur when flying and ways to combat them, your trips will be safer and more comfortable. 

We wish you a good trip!

Photo: Jim Vondruska/Reuters

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