Dublin Airport
Founded in 1939, Dublin International Airport is located in Collinstown, 11 km from the city. It is managed by the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), a semi-public body.
What is the legal status of Dublin Airport?
With around 30 million travellers per year, it is the leading Irish airport in terms of passenger numbers, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland .
It is also the base for Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline. Unlike most European Union Member States, Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area. However, it remains subject to European regulations on civil aviation.
Dublin Airport is therefore a fully-fledged European airport. We explain what this means for your rights.
Flight delay or cancellation at Dublin Airport: what are your rights as a traveller?
Dublin is the 12th busiest airport in Europe in terms of traffic and offers numerous transatlantic connections to Canada and the United States.
The longer a flight, the higher the likelihood of a delay, partly due to weather conditions over the Atlantic. It is therefore not uncommon at Dublin, for a flight to be delayed or cancelled.
If your flight is affected, it is likely to fall under the European regulations on air passenger rights.
Your rights at Dublin Airport
Dublin International Airport is part of a European Union Member State. It is covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
Your plane ticket entitles you to a journey. Unless you are a no-show, the airline is obliged to take you to your destination.
In the event of an incident, it has a number of obligations:
- to get you to your destination as soon as possible, even if it means re-routing you
- to cover your expenses in the event of an incident (meals, phone calls, hotel, etc.)
The compensation package
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 has established a standard compensation scale in the event of an incident. It provides for:
- €250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with a delay of two hours or more
- €400 for a non-EU flight of 1500 to 3500 km or an EU flight of more than 1500 km with a delay of 3 hours or more
- €600 for a non-EU flight of more than 3500 km with a delay of 4 hours or more
Which flights are covered by Regulation EC 261?
European regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to:
- any flight departing from an airport within the European Community, including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland
- any flight operated by an airline based in the European Community (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland) and destined for it.
If your flight departs from Dublin, it is covered, regardless of the airline and destination. However, if you have a flight to Dublin, it will depend on:
- whether it comes from another European airport
- and/or whether it is operated by a European airline
What to do in case of strikes at Dublin Airport?
In the event of an incident, it is the responsibility of the airline transporting you to compensate you.
Strikes are considered exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances, for which the airline may be exempt from compensation.
In practice, it is a bit more complex: it all depends on who is striking.
If it is the air traffic controllers or baggage handlers at Dublin Airport who are on strike, it is not the airline's staff. Therefore, the airline is not responsible and is not obliged to compensate you.
However, if it is the airline's own staff who are on strike, the airline is responsible for the disruptions.
It will therefore have to compensate you.
Compensation for a flight delay at Dublin Airport, are you eligible?
If your flight is covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, in the event of a delay, you are eligible for compensation.
This is only due after a certain delay. For a flight of less than 1500 km, the delay must be at least 2 hours. The longer the distance, the higher the threshold.
Can you claim compensation for a cancelled flight at Dublin Airport?
A flight is cancelled when it is simply and completely removed.
If the airline is responsible for the incident, it must compensate you, regardless of the delay. However, if the delay does not exceed certain limits, there may be a reduction.
The compensation is reduced from:
- €250 to €125 for a delay of less than 2 hours
- €400 to €200 for an EU flight of more than 1500 km or a non-EU flight of 1500 to 3500 km, with a delay of less than 3 hours
- €600 to €300 for a non-EU flight of more than 3500 km with a delay of less than 4 hours
What to do in case of overbooking at Dublin Airport?
Sometimes an airline issues more tickets than there are seats on a plane. This is known as overbooking.
If all passengers show up, you may be denied boarding.
Overbooking is not illegal, but it is strictly regulated by European law. This requires the airline to re-route you as soon as possible.
Additionally, you are entitled to compensation according to the same scale as for cancellations, with the same reduction.
What to do in case of a flight issue at Dublin Airport?
In the event of an incident at Dublin Airport, the airline is not always responsible. However, it is obliged to take care of you until you arrive.
It remains your point of contact. You can therefore turn to them for any questions or complaints.
You can:
- inquire about the incident
- request re-routing
- request reimbursement of your expenses
- inquire about the procedure for making a claim
If you believe the airline is responsible for the incident, keep all your documents (boarding pass, etc.). Do not sign any document that would release the airline from its obligations. You would have no further recourse.
You can start the compensation process only upon arrival. The delay on arrival will be taken into account.
Delayed assists you in case of flight disruption at Dublin Airport
With language barriers and the various authorities involved in organising a flight, it is not always easy to know who is responsible.
By default, according to European regulations, the airline is responsible, but there are exceptions.
Have you experienced a delay, flight cancellation, or overbooking at Dublin Airport, and it's all unclear to you?
Why not let professionals handle your case? Delayed, specialists in air passenger rights, will assist you with your claims.
Contact us and claim up to €600 in compensation.