Compensation for Basel Airport Flight Cancellations and Delays

The first thing you need to know about Basel Airport flight cancellations and delays is that they are covered by a law called EU Regulation No. 261/2004. Shortened to EC 261, this law protects air passengers’ rights and ensures everyone is fairly treated by airlines.

EC 261 is one of the most comprehensive air passenger rights regulations in the world. It covers all of the EU, as well as its special territories such as the Azores and Canary Islands. Since Basel Airport is based in the EU, passengers traveling from here are protected.

With EC 261, you get the right to care while waiting, as well as compensation if your flight was unexpectedly canceled or delayed by more than 3 hours. In these cases, each affected passenger can receive up to US$700.

Is your flight covered by EC 261?

So what happens after you experience delays in Basel Airport? Well, the first thing you need to check is how long the delay is expected to last. Ask the airline how long you’re expected to wait, and be sure to ask for the reason behind the delay. Sometimes, the airline will be at fault, while at other times, the disruption is beyond their control.

If the airline is responsible for the disruption, and if you arrive at your intended destination more than 3 hours late, you may be eligible for compensation. Each passenger can expect to get as much as $700, depending on distance traveled and the total length of the delay.

When you claim for compensation for your delayed flight, you usually have up to 3 years to claim. However, it can vary from country to country, which is why it is better to submit a claim as soon as possible so that you do not miss out on the cash owed to you.

Basel Airport flight cancellations can be especially frustrating, particularly when you are left stranded at the airport. Flight cancellations are sometimes a necessity, but when they could have been avoided, you must be compensated. If a flight cancellation was the airline’s responsibility, you could get up to US$700 in compensation per passenger.

However, this only applies to flights that were canceled less than 14 days before your scheduled departure. If they gave you a heads up of more than 14 days before, the airline is not legally obligated to pay.

The airline is still obligated to provide you with an alternative flight to your destination. Alternatively, you can also choose to get your flight refunded if you no longer wish to travel.

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

If your flight disruption was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, the compensation amount is typically determined using the travel distance — however some exceptions do apply. We'll check the compensation amount when you start your claim.

There are times when Basel Airport cancellations or delays cannot be avoided. Some can be caused by extraordinary circumstances, that is, disruptions that were outside of the airline’s control.

Usually, continuing to operate during these situations could put passengers, flight crew, or even Airport personnel at risk, which is why the flight will have to be canceled or delayed.

Flights that are Eligible: