Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport

Lyon-Saint-Exupéry International Airport is located 25 kilometres east of the city, in the commune of Colombier-Saugnieu. With over 11 million passengers annually, it is the fourth largest airport in France, after Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Nice-Côte d’Azur.

It serves 119 destinations across 36 different countries. While most flights are within Europe, there are also some flights to third countries, including long-haul flights. Beyond Europe, the main connections are to North and West Africa, Canada, the Gulf countries, and Overseas Territories.

While most flights departing from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry are within the EU, some are indeed third-country flights.

What are your rights when departing from or arriving at this airport? We help you understand them better.

Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport and European regulations

Located near France's second-largest urban area, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport is subject to European law.

In 2004, a European regulation was established to define air passenger rights at the EU level. These rights come with a set of obligations for airlines.

This is Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which outlines the actions airlines must take in the event of flight disruptions.

What does Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 provide if your flight encounters difficulties?

To travel by plane, you must meet two conditions: have valid documents and arrive on time for boarding. If these are met, the airline must take you to your destination.

In the event of a disruption, it is also their responsibility to offer you an alternative solution.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 outlines three main scenarios: delay, cancellation and overbooking.

In these situations, the airline is still obliged to transport you to your destination. They must also provide material assistance.

In the case of a prolonged delay, the airline must provide you with meals and drinks. Additionally, if you need to stay overnight, they must cover your hotel costs. Finally, if you need to inform someone, you can request reimbursement for two phone calls.

If the airline has cancelled your flight or denied you boarding due to overbooking, they must also offer you re-routing at the earliest opportunity. If no solution suits you, you have the right to cancel your flight with a full refund .

In the case of overbooking, if you are not a volunteer to give up your seat and choose a ticket refund, you may also be entitled to a claim or compensation.

The European compensation system

Indeed, a delay, a cancellation or a denied boarding are considered as inconveniences. As such, they entitle you to compensation.

This compensation system is based on a fixed scale. The amount of compensation depends on the distance of your flight, its status, the extent of the delay, and the type of disruption.

Compensation in the event of a delay

A flight delay is perhaps the most common incident. However, significant delays remain relatively rare. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 provides a compensation scale if you experience one.

Compensation is not automatic; you must apply for it. Moreover, the flight disruption must be the airline's responsibility, and no compensation is due for delays below a certain duration. The compensation amounts are as follows:

€250 for flights less than 1,500 km with more than three hours delay
€400 for non-EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km or EU flights over 1,500 km with more than three hours delay
€600 for non-EU flights over 3,500 km with more than four hours delay.

Compensation in the event of flight cancellation

In the event of cancellation, the airline must offer you another flight under comparable conditions. If they are responsible, they must compensate you according to the same scale as for delays.

There is one difference, however: even in the case of a short delay, you are entitled to compensation. However, if the delay does not exceed a certain duration, the compensation is halved. Thus, it changes from:

€250 to €125 for flights less than 1,500 km with less than two hours delay
€400 to €200 for non-EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km or EU flights over 1,500 km with less than three hours delay
€600 to €300 for non-EU flights over 3,500 km with less than four hours delay

Compensation in the event of overbooking

Your flight may experience overbooking (or over-reservation). In other words, the airline has sold more tickets than there are seats available.

This practice is not illegal, but it is strictly regulated. Not only must they offer you a replacement flight under the same conditions, but they must also compensate you.

The calculation basis is the same as for a flight cancellation.

man waiting on his phone at Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport

Which flights are covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/ at Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport?

The European regulation applies to:

any flight departing from an airport within the European Community (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland)
any flight arriving at an airport within this community area, by an airline based there.

All flights departing from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport are therefore subject to this regulation.

For incoming flights, it is a bit more complex. It will depend on where they come from and which airline operates them. At Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport, most flights are covered.

However, there are some airlines based in third countries, arriving from those countries.

This is the case, for example, with Air Transat, Air Algérie, or Emirates. They serve Canada, Algeria, and Dubai respectively. If you travel to these destinations from Lyon, your flight is subject to European regulations. But if you return from there, it is not, and falls under the law of the country of origin.

How to claim compensation after a disruption? Delayed is here to help

If your flight has been delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, you are likely entitled to compensation. However, depending on the airline and the circumstances, asserting your rights may be more or less straightforward.

The process can sometimes be lengthy, but that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing.

Delayed, a specialist in air passenger rights, assists you in making your claim.