These Major Disruptions Happened in 2025 – Were You Affected?
Claim up to €600 per passenger PLUS all your paid expenses and damages
Claim Your Compensation Now See 2025 Events2025 Has Been a Year of Flight Chaos – You Deserve Compensation
From airline strikes to air traffic control disruptions, millions of passengers across Europe have faced cancelled flights, massive delays, and ruined travel plans. If you were one of them, you could be entitled to substantial compensation – and most travelers don’t even know they can claim.
Here’s What Most Passengers Don’t Know:
- You can claim up to €600 per passenger under EU Regulation 261/2004 for flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding caused by airline responsibility
- You can ALSO claim ALL your expenses under the Montreal Convention – hotels, meals, taxis, replacement flights, and even compensation for missed business meetings or family events
- Many 2025 strikes ARE compensable despite what airlines tell you – employee strikes (cabin crew, ground handling) are often the airline’s responsibility
- You have up to 6 years to claim in most European countries – even if your disruption was months ago
Major 2025 Flight Disruptions: Were You Caught in These Events?
Below are the confirmed major disruptions that affected thousands of passengers in 2025. Click on each to understand your compensation rights.
🇪🇸 EasyJet Spain – Cabin Crew Strike
25-27 June 2025Affected Airports: Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca
Who Struck: USO union cabin crew members
Impact: Multiple flight cancellations and delays across Spain’s busiest summer tourist airports during peak travel season
Your Rights: This is airline employee labor action. EasyJet is directly responsible for their crew’s industrial action, which means this does NOT qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” under EU law. You are entitled to full EU261 compensation (€250-€600 depending on flight distance) PLUS all expenses you incurred.
🇨🇦 Air Canada – Flight Attendants Strike
16-19 August 2025Region: Canada-wide (international flights affected)
Who Struck: Flight attendants union
Impact: Major disruptions to transatlantic and international routes, affecting European passengers traveling to/from Canada
Your Rights: While Canadian domestic flights follow different rules, if your flight originated in the EU or was operated by an EU airline, you may still be covered under EU261. Additionally, the Montreal Convention applies to international flights worldwide, meaning you can claim all your expenses regardless of where the flight originated.
🇳🇱 KLM – Ground Staff & Cargo Operations
Ongoing throughout 2025Location: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and other Dutch airports
Issue: Labor disputes with ground workers affecting baggage handling, check-in, and cargo operations
Impact: Intermittent delays, baggage issues, and operational disruptions throughout the year
Your Rights: Ground handling staff employed directly by KLM means the airline is responsible. If you experienced delays over 3 hours or cancellations, you can claim EU261 compensation. Lost or delayed baggage is separately compensable under Montreal Convention.
🇪🇸 Ryanair – Azul Handling Strike (Ground Services)
From 15 August – End of Year 2025Strike Pattern: Every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until end of 2025
Affected Services: Ground handling operations for Ryanair flights in Spain
Impact: Recurring weekend and mid-week disruptions affecting thousands of budget travelers
Your Rights: This is more complex – Azul Handling is a third-party contractor. However, airlines are responsible for selecting reliable ground handlers. If Ryanair continued using Azul despite known recurring strikes, they may be deemed responsible. EU261 claims are possible, especially for repeated disruptions. All expenses are claimable under Montreal Convention regardless.
🇫🇷 France – Air Traffic Control Strikes (October)
7-10 October 2025Affected Area: All French airspace and airports
Impact: Massive disruptions across Europe as flights were forced to reroute or cancel to avoid French airspace
Airlines Affected: All carriers using French airspace (British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, and dozens more)
Your Rights: ATC strikes are generally classified as “extraordinary circumstances” under EU261, meaning standard €250-€600 compensation may not apply. HOWEVER, airlines still have duty-of-care obligations (meals, hotels if overnight delay). More importantly, you CAN claim all your out-of-pocket expenses under the Montreal Convention – replacement flights, hotels, meals, taxis, and business losses.
🇮🇹 Italy – National Aviation Strike
2-3 October 2025Who Struck: Airport staff, ground crews, airline employees across Italy
Affected Airports: Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice, Naples, and all major Italian airports
Impact: Nationwide disruption affecting both domestic Italian flights and international flights to/from Italy
Your Rights: Because multiple parties struck simultaneously (not just one airline), compensation eligibility depends on which specific workers caused your delay. If your airline’s own employees struck, you have a strong EU261 claim. If it was airport-wide infrastructure, Montreal Convention expense claims still apply.
🇫🇷 France – Summer ATC Strikes
Multiple 2-day strikes, Summer 2025Frequency: Several two-day strike periods throughout June, July, and August 2025
Impact: Peak summer travel chaos affecting millions of holiday travelers across Europe
Your Rights: Similar to October ATC strikes – limited EU261 compensation rights, but FULL expense claim rights under Montreal Convention. If your summer holiday was ruined, hotel costs, alternative transport, and even compensation for missed pre-paid activities may be claimable.
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Understanding Your Rights: EU261 + Montreal Convention
Most passengers only know about EU261, but there’s a second, powerful international treaty that protects you even when EU261 doesn’t apply.
🇪🇺 EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261)
This European law gives you the right to fixed compensation when airlines are at fault for disruptions.
Compensation Amounts:
- €250 – Flights up to 1,500km
- €400 – EU flights over 1,500km / International flights 1,500-3,500km
- €600 – International flights over 3,500km
When It Applies:
- Flight delayed 3+ hours at final destination
- Flight cancelled with less than 14 days notice
- Denied boarding (overbooked flight)
- Missed connection causing 3+ hour delay
Important Notes:
- Applies to flights departing from EU or EU airlines arriving in EU
- Airline employee strikes = Airline’s responsibility = You get compensation
- ATC strikes = Usually “extraordinary” = No EU261 compensation (but Montreal still applies!)
- Weather = Extraordinary = No EU261 (but Montreal still applies!)