Those who remained involved in the air disservices between Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June can refer to the EC regulation 261/2004 to find out what it is up to them. Even in exceptional cases, such as a technical breakdown Which does not depend directly on the airline, passengers are entitled to assistance: meals, accommodation, transfers and, if necessary, the reimbursement of the expenses incurred. It is not foreseen instead none economic compensation.
The origin of the chaos was identified in the malfunction of the radar system of the ENAV center of the North-West, which blocked the operations in Six Italian airports: Malpensa, Linate, Orio al Serio, Turin Caselle, Pisa and Modena. ENAC confirmed that 320 flights were involved between cancellations and hijacations. Thousands of passengers remained on the ground, while others had to resort to alternative solutions to reach their destination.
Passenger rights in case of delays or cancellations
When a flight is canceled or accumulates significant delays, the assistance is due in any case, according to the legislation of passengers. And provides not only snacks and bottles of water, but also hotel rooms If you need to stay at night, transport to and from the structures, and the possibility of contacting those who left on the ground.
In the event that the passenger advances his own pocket meals, taxi or hotel, the airline is required to reimburse every expenditure item that is sensible and demonstrable: therefore, you must keep aside all the receipts.
As for the journey itself, Those who are left on the ground have the right to a new departurewithout losing a euro. If the carrier does not offer valid alternatives, the passenger can contact another company and demand the return of costs. And if not even the plane is an option, the company will have to work with buses, trains or what you need to bring them to their destination.
Options available after a cancellation
If a flight is deleted, the traveler has the right to choose between three options:
- ask for a reimbursement of the ticket, including the one to go back in the case of a trip with a stopover;
- be reprotto on a new flight to the initial destination, just available;
- start again later, on a date more suitable for your needs.
These choices remain valid even when the disservice does not depend on the companyas in the case of the radar, as long as the notice to the passenger has not arrived in scheduled times.
No economic compensation in cases of force majeure
And now the sore point. Unfortunately, there will be no check for those who have been blocked on the ground. When a technical breakdown Send the radar system by tilt, there is no mention of the liability of the airline but of exceptional event: In these cases, the European Regulation requires assistance and coverage of living expenses, but does not recognize any additional compensation.
Similar situations are, for example, the closure of the airspace for safety reasons or other critical issues outside the vector control sphere. Only when the dysfunction is internal (as in the case of a staff strike) can the passenger make requests for real economic compensation.
The complaint of the Codacons after the blackout and the political pressing
On the legal level, the Codacons made it known that he wanted to deposit a exposed to the Milan prosecutor To ascertain whether what happened can configure a public service interruption.
“What happened in the past few hours represents a very serious episode that has brought the air transport sector to its knees, involving thousands and thousands of passengers,” said the association.
Also Solos He intervened, with the president Gabriele Melluso who boiled the idea that a single technical failure can put the entire radar system of northern Italy as intolerable. He asked for an autonomous investigation and urgent checks on the premises that host the data centers, also given the high temperatures that may have compromised the holding of the systems.
The Democratic Party he asked for anparliamentary question to shed light on political responsibilities Behind the blockade of the skies of northern Italy. The deputies Anthony Barbagallo and Andrea Casu spoke of inadequate management and a “deafening silence” in the most delicate hours.
