Estravel Latvia Partners with Skycop for EU Flight Compensation Claims

Estravel Latvia has officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Lithuanian company “Skycop”, a leading specialist in handling passenger compensation claims under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004.

Flight disruptions can turn a dream holiday or an important business trip into a stressful experience. Fortunately, European Union legislation provides robust protection for travellers facing unexpected schedule changes. Through this new partnership, Estravel Latvia aims to ensure that customers have direct access to professional legal assistance whenever their travel plans are severely disrupted by airlines.

What is Regulation (EC) No 261/2004?

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishes common European rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays (further in the text – Regulation). This landmark regulation establishes baseline rights for passengers, guaranteeing monetary compensation under specific operational circumstances:

Flight Cancellations: When the operating air carrier has cancelled the flight and has not informed the passengers at least 14 days before the scheduled departure time (or where passengers are not offered suitable re-routing if they have been informed about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure);
Long Delays: When the flight has been delayed and the air carrier reaches the final destination three or more hours after the original scheduled time of arrival;
Denied Boarding: When passengers are involuntarily denied boarding against their will due to overbooking, despite having checked in on time with valid travel documentation.

Scope of Application

To determine whether your flight qualifies for protection under European law, it is necessary to consider the departure point and the operating carrier. This Regulation shall apply:

To passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of an EU Member State to which the Treaty applies (including Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland), regardless of whether the operating airline is an EU or non-EU carrier;
To passengers departing from an airport located in a third (non-EU) country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, unless they received benefits or compensation and were given assistance in that third country, provided that the operating air carrier of the flight concerned is a Community (EU-registered) carrier.

Extraordinary Circumstances: Airline Exemptions

It is important to be aware that the air carrier retains the legal right not to disburse compensation if it can conclusively prove that the flight delay or cancellation was caused by imminent or extraordinary circumstances. Such circumstances include severe weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, political instability, or sudden security risks that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. However, routine technical faults or operational crew shortages are generally not accepted as valid extraordinary circumstances.

Your Right to Financial Compensation

Where reference is made to this Article, eligible passengers shall receive fixed financial compensation amounting to:

€250 for all flights of 1,500 kilometres or less;
€400 for all intra-Community flights of more than 1,500 kilometres, and for all other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres;
€600 for all flights not falling under the previous two conditions (typically long-haul flights exceeding 3,500 kilometres).

How to Claim Your Payout with Skycop

If your flight has deviated from its scheduled itinerary, you can choose to contact the operating air carrier directly or utilise the specialized services of our partner, SKYCOP. Claiming directly from airlines can sometimes involve protracted correspondence and legal hurdles, as carriers may decline valid claims.

SKYCOP has experienced lawyers at its disposal who are fully prepared to initiate legal proceedings against non-compliant airlines if necessary, significantly increasing the probability of successfully recovering compensation. The company operates on a transparent success-based fee structure: SKYCOP withholds 25% of the compensation amount in the process of successfully requesting compensation.

If the air carrier rejects the claim for compensation and no payout is obtained, the passenger will not be charged anything. In the case of successful compensation recovery, SKYCOP shall promptly transfer 75% of the total amount of compensation received directly to the passenger.

Important Information Regarding Estravel's Role

Please note that the process of claiming compensation remains strictly between the individual passenger and the air carrier (or SKYCOP acting on the passenger's behalf). Estravel Latvia acts as an informational partner and does not intervene in the process, nor can it influence the outcome or speed of the claim. Please contact your air carrier or SKYCOP directly for further information on the compensation, the claims procedure, and payment processing.

Submit your claim to SKYCOP for compensation HERE.