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Flight Delay Compensation

Does the 3-hour rule apply to arrival or departure?

It applies to the arrival time at your final destination. Even if you departed 4 hours late but the pilot made up time and you arrived 2 hours 50 mins late, no compensation is due.

My flight was from Istanbul to Tbilisi with a Turkish airline. Can I claim?

If the airline is non-EU/non-Georgian and the flight departed from outside Georgia/EU, Georgian/EU regulations generally do not apply unless specific bilateral agreements state otherwise.

How is the distance calculated?

It is the Great Circle Distance (direct route) between the departure and arrival airports, not the actual flight path flown.

Can I claim for missed business meetings?

Standard compensation covers inconvenience. For specific business losses, you would need to file a separate civil lawsuit proving direct causation, which is much harder.

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Flight delay is one of the most common problems in aviation, causing passengers not only discomfort but also financial loss. As a result of the harmonization of EU regulations and Georgian legislation, passengers have a clearly defined right to claim monetary compensation for delays of a specific duration. The Flight Delay Compensation service focuses specifically on this financial aspect—how to turn lost time into monetary compensation (up to 250-600 EUR) and how to prove that the delay was the airline's fault and not "force majeure."

When are you entitled to Flight Delay Compensation?

Specialists will help you determine if your case meets the compensation criteria. The main conditions are:

  • More than 3 hours: The aircraft arrived at the destination (not just took off) more than 3 hours late. Time is counted from the moment the aircraft doors open.
  • Airline Fault: The delay was caused by reasons within the airline's control (e.g., crew lateness, technical fault, airline strike).
  • Coverage Area: The flight departed from Georgia to any destination (any airline) or arrived in Georgia operated by a European/Georgian airline.
  • Distance Calculation: Compensation depends on the distance: up to 1500 km (250 EUR), 1500-3500 km (400 EUR), more than 3500 km (600 EUR).

Common Situations and Nuances

Delay compensation cases are often complicated by technical details:

  • Connecting Flights: The first flight was delayed by only 40 minutes, but because of this, the passenger missed the second flight and arrived at the final destination 5 hours late. In this case, compensation is due for the full distance.
  • "Technical Fault": The airline claims that an engine malfunction was "unexpected." Lawyers know that under European court practice (which Georgian courts also consider), technical problems are the airline's responsibility and not force majeure.
  • Bird Strike: This is considered an extraordinary circumstance and usually exempts the airline from compensation, although the burden of proof lies with the airline.

Georgian Legislation and Regulations

Delay compensation is directly regulated by the Order of the Director of the Civil Aviation Agency on "Protection of Passenger Rights in Air Carriage." This document mirrors EU Regulation 261/2004. In addition to the right to receive compensation, the Civil Code of Georgia gives the passenger the right to claim compensation for specific material damages caused by the delay (e.g., prepaid hotel or missed excursion costs), although this requires additional evidence.

Service Process

With the help of a lawyer, the process is streamlined:

  1. Data Verification: Using flight databases (Flightradar24, etc.) to record the actual delay time.
  2. Amount Calculation: Determining the exact compensation amount based on distance.
  3. Communication: Professional correspondence with the airline, where the lawyer refutes the airline's arguments regarding "extraordinary circumstances."
  4. Enforcement: Reaching an agreement and transferring the funds.

Why Legal.ge?

Airlines have strong legal departments aiming to minimize payouts. They often rely on the passenger's inexperience. On Legal.ge, you will find specialists who often work on a "No Win, No Fee" basis or fixed tariff, meaning you lose nothing. Our lawyers use precise meteorological and aviation data to rebut the airline's arguments.

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