The travel agency Estravel has signed an official partnership agreement with the international Lithuanian company Skycop, which is one of the leading specialists in claiming compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (adopted on 11 February 2004). The aim of this partnership is to provide our customers with maximum support and protection in cases where their travel plans are disrupted by unforeseen flight changes or disruptions.

What is European Community Regulation No 261/2004 and what does it cover?

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down common and strictly defined rules on compensation and assistance for air passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation of flights or long delays. This Regulation was drawn up to ensure a minimum level of protection for passengers’ rights and to improve the quality of service provided by airlines. The Regulation applies in the following cases:

• Flight cancellation: The air carrier has cancelled the flight and has not given notice of this at least 14 calendar days before the scheduled departure (or has not offered an alternative route with similar departure and arrival times, if notification is given less than 14 days before departure);
• Long flight delay: The flight is delayed and the aircraft reaches its final destination three or more hours later than the air carrier originally scheduled;
• Denied boarding: A passenger is unjustifiably denied boarding (for example, due to the aircraft being overbooked), even though the passenger arrived in good time for check-in.

This Regulation applies where the flights are operated by an air carrier registered in the European Community, or the place of departure and destination indicated on the ticket are located in a Member State of the European Economic Community (EEC).

Passenger care and exceptional circumstances

In addition to financial compensation, the Regulation also stipulates the air carrier’s obligation to provide passengers with assistance at the airport – free meals and drinks, the opportunity to make telephone calls or send emails, as well as free hotel accommodation and transport if an overnight stay is necessary due to a flight delay.

The air carrier has a legal right not to pay financial compensation if the flight was cancelled or delayed due to extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances (for example, extreme weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, political unrest or security threats). However, routine technical problems with an aircraft are not generally considered to be extraordinary circumstances, and compensation must be paid in such cases.

Amount of compensation payable

Under Regulation No 261/2004, the amount of compensation payable per passenger is fixed and depends on the flight distance, rather than on the original ticket price:

• EUR 250 if the flight distance is 1,500 km or less;
• EUR 400 if the flight distance within the EU is more than 1,500 km, as well as for other flights where the flight distance is between 1,500 km and 3,500 km;
• EUR 600 for flights where the flight distance exceeds 3,500 km outside the European Union.

Why choose SKYCOP’s services?

You can contact the airline directly if your flight was delayed, but in practice, airlines often reject claims from individuals or drag their feet. That is why it is convenient to use the services of our partner, SKYCOP.

SKYCOP employs experienced lawyers and aviation experts who, if necessary, are prepared to initiate legal proceedings and defend passengers’ interests in court, thereby significantly increasing the chances of receiving compensation.

The company operates on a no-win, no-fee basis – if the airline rejects the claim and no compensation is received, the passenger does not have to pay anything. If compensation is successfully awarded, SKYCOP retains 25 per cent of the compensation amount for its assistance and legal support and transfers the statutory 75 per cent of the amount received to the passenger.

Important information on the application procedure

The compensation claim process takes place directly between the passenger and the air carrier (or its authorised representative, SKYCOP). The travel agency Estravel does not intervene in this legal process and cannot influence it. For further information on compensation, how it is paid out and the procedure for claiming it, please contact the airline or SKYCOP directly.

You can submit a claim to SKYCOP for compensation quickly and easily HERE.