The recent power outage affecting the Iberian Peninsula has stranded thousands of passengers at airports, including Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and El Prat in Barcelona. This incident resulted in the cancellation of 344 out of the 6,000 scheduled flights, as stated by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.
As a result of this situation, passengers are facing uncertainty regarding their rights and potential compensations. Flightright, a portal specializing in defending air travelers’ rights, has provided guidance on options available for those affected.
Lucia Cegarra, a legal expert from Flightright, explains that “widespread outages can be considered extraordinary circumstances, meaning that in many cases the automatic economic compensation outlined in European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 may not apply, provided that airlines took all reasonable measures to prevent the issue.”
(Translation: Las interrupciones generalizadas pueden considerarse circunstancias extraordinarias, lo que significa que en muchos casos la compensación económica automática del Reglamento Europeo (CE) Nº 261/2004 puede no aplicarse, siempre que las aerolíneas hayan tomado todas las medidas razonables para evitar el problema.)
However, airlines still have legal obligations, even during exceptional situations. These include providing alternative transport as soon as possible, whether through other flights, indirect routes, or other means such as trains, buses, or taxis. They must also offer assistance at the airport, including food, drinks, and accommodations, especially for those passengers not living in the airport city.
In cases where the airline mismanaged the alternative transportation, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation of up to 600 euros.
Flightright urges those affected to keep all travel documents, including boarding passes, cancellation emails, and receipts of expenses, to claim their rights. Even though it may be an extraordinary circumstance, every case must be evaluated individually.
Passengers impacted by this outage should remain vigilant about their rights and act promptly to ensure they receive appropriate solutions.
