EU Airlines Face €2 Billion in Summer Compensation Claims

Between June and August 2024, over 60,000 flights departing from EU airports experienced disruptions qualifying for compensation under the EU261 regulation, according to data from claims management company Skycop. This staggering figure suggests that airlines could owe travelers around €2 billion this summer alone, based on a conservative estimate of 130 passengers per affected flight and a minimum compensation of €250. However, only about one-third of this amount is typically claimed by affected passengers.

Skycop’s analysis indicates that more than 3.2 million flights departed from EU airports during the summer months. The 60,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights account for nearly 2% of all departures, highlighting the scale of the issue.

Among the largest aviation markets, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France experienced the most significant disruptions, with each country reporting between 7,000 and 13,000 affected flights. The disruption rates varied considerably across these markets. In Germany, over 2.5% of departing flights were disrupted, while Italy, France, and the Netherlands recorded slightly lower rates just under 2%. In contrast, Spain reported a disruption rate of only 1.5%.

Luxembourg, Hungary, and Romania faced the highest disruption rates this summer, with approximately 3% of all flights impacted. Conversely, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were the only countries with less than 1% of flights significantly delayed or canceled.

The overall EU average for disrupted flights slightly exceeded last year’s rate of 1.8%, yet it remained below the 2.5% seen during the summer of 2022. According to Skycop’s lawyer, Nerijus Zaleckas, airlines are not making sufficient efforts to inform passengers about their compensation rights, often failing to provide this information voluntarily. Consequently, passengers frequently encounter complex processes on airline websites or must seek assistance from claims management companies.

“There is no precise data on the percentage of passengers who claim compensation, but industry estimates suggest that only up to a third of affected travelers pursue claims,” Zaleckas noted. “This means that this summer alone, hundreds of millions of euros may go unclaimed. I urge travelers to exercise their rights: the EU261 regulation was created to compensate passengers for inconveniences and encourage airlines to improve their performance.”

Under the EU261 regulation, passengers departing from EU airports—regardless of the airline’s country of origin—and those arriving at EU airports on EU-registered airlines are entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600 for delays exceeding three hours. Compensation is also available for canceled flights, unexpected transportation or accommodation expenses, lost baggage, and other qualifying scenarios.

Skycop utilizes proprietary data and both public and non-public market analytics to assess the share of flights eligible for compensation. The company emphasizes that many punctuality or delay statistics available online often include minor delays that do not meet the three-hour threshold for compensation.

Founded in 2017, Skycop is a leading European claims management company dedicated to helping passengers claim compensation for disrupted flights.