Record number of Belgians claim flight compensation

About 10,000 Belgians have claimed compensation this year because their flight was cancelled or delayed, costing airline companies as much as €1.7 million already this year, writes Het Nieuwsblad.

The EU flight compensation regulation is in place since 2013. It applies to flights that are delayed by more than three hours, overbooked or cancelled.

"The number of claims is on the rise, especially in the summer months,” confirms Ralph Pais of Claim It, an organisation that helps airline passengers recover their money. “The 10,000 claims add up to about €4 million. Meanwhile, 4,200 of those claims have been paid out by airline companies, accounting for €1.7 million in damages. Last year, a total of €3 million was paid out.”

The farther the flight, the higher the amount that a passenger can claim, with a maximum of €600.