Approximatelyone-third of travelers passing through Lisbon's airport could potentially warrant financial reimbursement.
Disruptions at Lisbon Airport Affect Close to 12 Million Passengers in 2024, Potentially Entitled to Compensation
A significant number of passengers who utilized Lisbon Airport in 2024 were subjected to flight disruptions, such as delays and cancellations, which might qualify them for financial compensation of up to €600, according to the AirAdvisor platform. The platform reports that approximately 34% of passengers experienced operational problems during the past year.
As per European legislation, passengers who endure delays exceeding three hours, cancellations, or denied boarding are entitled to compensation within a range of €250 to €600, contingent upon the flight's distance and waiting time. Last year, Lisbon Airport handled 49.8% of Portugal's total passengers, translating to approximately 35.1 million individuals, as per the National Statistics Institute (INE). This figure represents a 4.3% growth from the previous year.
AirAdvisor's CEO, Anton Radchenko, asserts that the rise in passenger traffic isn't exclusive to Lisbon. "By adding up the data from other airports, Portugal solidified its position as the 9th largest air market in Europe," he declares, emphasizing that the INE projects 245.9 thousand commercial flights and 70.4 million passengers to land at Portuguese airports in 2024. Given the anticipated growth curve and the 12% increase in international tourism last year, Radchenko foresees ongoing expansion in air operations throughout Portugal this summer, necessitating preparedness from airports and airlines to minimize flight disruptions.
Portugal's challenges with flight punctuality persist; in 2023, the country ranked third-worst in Europe in this regard, with over 80,000 flights disrupted, affecting more than 11 million passengers. Despite the substantial impact of these delays and cancellations, the majority of passengers refrain from lodging complaints, as per AirAdvisor's analysis. Approximately 10% of entitled passengers actually seek reimbursement or compensation, which Radchenko attributes to a lack of knowledge of consumer rights, the intricacy of complaint procedures, and occasionally the bad faith of certain firms.
AirAdvisor urges passengers to preserve all receipts, including tickets, airline communications, expense receipts, and to establish the precise cause of the disruption in writing. The CEO also cautions against the practice of some companies offering vouchers instead of ticket refunds. "These vouchers may contain clauses waiving the right to financial compensation," Radchenko states.
Even in cases where a refund or alternate accommodation is granted, there may still be grounds for compensation. Passengers should verify whether the situation satisfies the criteria specified by the European regulations pertaining to air passenger rights, as the amounts can extend up to €600 per individual, Radchenko concludes. [1][2][3]
Notably, affected passengers of Lisbon Airport in 2024 can create claims for the inconvenience caused by the flight disruptions via the AirAdvisor platform by providing flight details and evidence of disruption. Passengers are eligible for compensation if they experienced a delay of over three hours, flight cancellation, or denied boarding, and the compensation amount is contingent upon the flight distance and delay length. [1][2]
- Given the disruptions at Lisbon Airport in 2024, passengers who suffered delays or cancellations might be entitled to financial compensation according to the AirAdvisor platform.
- Portugal's position as the 9th largest air market in Europe can be attributed to the significant increase in passenger traffic, not just at Lisbon Airport, but at other Portuguese airports as well.
- Passengers experiencing flight disruptions, such as delays exceeding three hours, cancellations, or denied boarding, are entitled to compensation within a range of €250 to €600 under European legislation.
- Preparedness from airports and airlines to minimize flight disruptions is crucial this summer, given the anticipated growth in air operations throughout Portugal due to the increase in international tourism.
