With the Christmas travel rush approaching, Spanish airport operator Aena issued a consumer alert on 22 November reminding passengers that EU Regulation 261/2004 entitles them to cash compensation of up to €600 for long delays, cancellations or denied boarding. The notice follows a year in which Skycop data show 218,000 EU-covered flights were delayed by at least three hours, potentially generating €6.5 billion in unclaimed payouts.
Aena’s statement lists common pitfalls: travellers must keep boarding passes, request written confirmation of the disruption and submit claims first to the airline – not Aena – within six to eight weeks. If rejected, passengers may escalate to Spain’s national enforcement body or use a claims service (which typically charges 25–30 % commission).
![Bigger Payouts for Delayed Flights: Aena Reminds Travellers of €600 EU261 Rights]()
For corporate travel managers the reminder is timely. Companies can recoup significant costs if they centralise claims on behalf of employees and embed EU261 workflows into expense software. Lost productivity from overnight delays often dwarfs the €600 cash award; capturing both can soften the blow of travel disruption.
The alert also covers baggage rights under the Montreal Convention, where compensation can reach €1,300. Aena advises prompt damage or delay reports – within seven or 21 days, respectively – to preserve claims.
Given ongoing security-staff strikes at major hubs, mobility planners should build buffer time into itineraries and brief assignees on their entitlement to meals, hotel rooms and transport during extended waits.
Aena’s statement lists common pitfalls: travellers must keep boarding passes, request written confirmation of the disruption and submit claims first to the airline – not Aena – within six to eight weeks. If rejected, passengers may escalate to Spain’s national enforcement body or use a claims service (which typically charges 25–30 % commission).
For corporate travel managers the reminder is timely. Companies can recoup significant costs if they centralise claims on behalf of employees and embed EU261 workflows into expense software. Lost productivity from overnight delays often dwarfs the €600 cash award; capturing both can soften the blow of travel disruption.
The alert also covers baggage rights under the Montreal Convention, where compensation can reach €1,300. Aena advises prompt damage or delay reports – within seven or 21 days, respectively – to preserve claims.
Given ongoing security-staff strikes at major hubs, mobility planners should build buffer time into itineraries and brief assignees on their entitlement to meals, hotel rooms and transport during extended waits.
