EasyJet Flight cancelled - ATC Strikes?

[Whygee]

Hi,

 

On may 26th, I was supposed to take an EasyJet flight from Barcelona to Paris but it was canceled at the last minute. We were offered a re-route on the next day, but it caused us to miss our connecting flight and we had to buy a new ticket (for a total of more than 600£).

 

At that time, I was told that the flight was canceled for "crew issues", i.e. they didn't have enough crew members to operate the flight. When we got back, I've contacted EasyJet to get a refund because this reason does not qualifies as "extraordinary circumstances" as defined the European legislation and I wanted to receive the monetary compensation defined by the law.

 

The reason that they now state is that "The flight was cancelled due to a crew issue, they had used all of their flight hours as a result of the ATC strikes and so were unable to operate the cancelled flight. This is extraordinary circumstances. ATC restrictions prevent aircraft operating to within 5 hours of the original schedule." and that "The strikes were initiated by French Air Traffic Control over pension reform proposals."

 

However, I was not aware of those strikes at that time and I'm not sure of how I can verify that. I searched the news archive and I didn't find anything. Is it possible to verify this with an independent source? Is there anything else I could do to receive a monetary compensation?

 

Thanks.

 

As a side note, does anybody know if it's possible to make a complaint to the Spanish authority by email? All I found was the postal adress in Madrid:

 

Reclamaciones - Derechos de los pasajeros - Ministerio de Fomento

[honeybee13]

Hi there. I did a quick google search and didn't find anything immediately. The French for strike is 'greve', striker is greviste. You might find a newspaper site that would help.

 

HB

[Cityboy62]

There were ATC strikes announced in France from 1700hrs on May 26th to early morning on 28th May but that's not to say that is what caused the cancellation.

 

I'm sure the airline would want you to believe it was cancelled due to strikes but do a bit of research and find out if other airlines flew that route or similar at about the same time.

 

Anyway, if you google 'france ATC strike 26 may' it quickly brings up references to this (and you don't even need the French translation, Honeybee!! ).

[honeybee13]

......but it makes me sound clever, doesn't it. Cityboy? Just because I can't google well.

 

HB

[Whygee]

Well, I actually speak French but I didn't find any info on Google originally. Here's a link that I found:

 

French ATC Strike 26th and 27th May

 

I don't know if we can say it's a credible source

 

How would I be able to check if other flights were departing at the same time? I could not find a archvied schedule on the airport's website.

[Cityboy62]

To check flights departing/arriving on or about the same time as yours try www.flightstats.co.uk

 

You will need to register (free) to obtain historical details of flights >3 days old.

[Whygee]

OK, here's what I could find:

 

From this, it seems that other airlines had no troubles flying at that time.

 

Is there any way to prove that the cancelation was not related to the strike? What should be my next course of action?

 

Thanks.

[Cityboy62]

OK, here's what I could find:

 

From this, it seems that other airlines had no troubles flying at that time.

 

Is there any way to prove that the cancelation was not related to the strike? What should be my next course of action?

 

Thanks.

 

If you proceed down the small claims legal route on this, you don't have to prove anything, the burden of proof is on the airline.

 

Your next course of action is down to you. You can either let sleeping dogs lie or you may decide to go down the legal route. EZ will not pay your compensation without you taking them to court. You might like to consider whether you have access to legal expenses cover via your household contents insurance policy which would indemnify your court and legal fees and provide access to professional legal advice on the matter.

 

If you do not have this cover, you could decide to take the DIY route via moneyclaimonline which will eventually end up with allocation to the small claims track in your local county court.

 

 

Do some research regarding EC 261/2004 and what you are entitled to claim, the minimum is 250 euros for the cancellation plus any expenses under article 9 of 261/2004.

[Guest Mrs Hobbit]

Now I know why I never fly with these airlines...having trouble lately with the broomstick...

 

I woud take them to Court and get to explain things to the Judge. This is staffing issue and an internal matter.

[Whygee]

Well my problem is that I'm in Canada and, if I understand properly, I would have to take them to small claim court in Spain?