Nantes Atlantique Airport

Nantes Atlantique Airport is located south of the Loire. Built in the commune of Bouguenais, it is close to the city of Nantes. With nearly 6 million travellers in 2022, it is the second largest airport in western France, after Bordeaux-Mérignac. It is also the ninth largest airport in France.

Nantes Atlantique Airport connects to 96 destinations, including 19 domestic flights. 26 airlines operate here. The three offering the most destinations are all low-cost airlines: Volotea, EasyJet and Transavia.

In addition to domestic flights, Nantes Atlantique Airport mainly serves European and British destinations. However, there are also some connections to North Africa, the Middle East, and a seasonal route to Montreal, operated by the Canadian airline Air Transat.

While most airlines at Nantes are European, some are based in third countries. Therefore, your rights may vary from one flight to another.

plane waiting for passengers at Nantes airport

Nantes Atlantique Airport, a European airport

As a French airport, Nantes Atlantique operates under European community law.

Internationally, civil aviation is primarily governed by the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions. However, within the European Union, an additional regulation governs this operation.

This is, of course, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

A brief overview of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004

As its name suggests, this European regulation came into force in 2004 and aims to establish a number of rights for air travellers. Consequently, the operation of airlines within the European Union is regulated.

Some third countries, like Canada and notably the United Kingdom, have comparable regulations.

The flights covered

The regulation applies to:

any flight departing from the European community area (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland)
any flight to this area, operated by an airline based there.

In the case of Nantes Atlantique Airport, this therefore applies to the vast majority of flights.

Out of 96 destinations, fewer than 15 are to third countries. Among these air routes, some are operated by European airlines. Several flights from North Africa, for example, are operated by Ryanair, an Irish airline, and Transavia, a Dutch airline. These airlines are based in the European community area, so Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies.

Flights not covered are those departing from third-country airports, operated by airlines based in third countries. For example, the European regulation does not apply to the Air Cairo flight from Luxor, Egypt.

It also does not apply to the EasyJet flight (a British airline, thus a third country) from London-Gatwick. However, in the United Kingdom, there is a regulation comparable to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004: the UK261 regulation. Surviving Brexit, this regulation is its transposition into British national law.

Your rights at Nantes Atlantique Airport

While the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions already guarantee you a number of rights, community law sets out their application. This represents obligations for airlines.

As a traveller, to be transported by the airline, you must have a valid ticket and documents. If you meet these obligations, the airline must take you to your destination.

In the event of an incident, this obligation remains. The airline is therefore required to get you there as soon as possible. If, for example, your flight has been cancelled, or if you were denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline must offer you an alternative flight.

Moreover, the airline's responsibility does not end with transporting passengers. If your delay is prolonged, the airline must provide you with meals and drinks. If you are on a flight covered by European or British regulations, it must also cover your phone calls, if necessary.

In the event of cancellation, overbooking or a delay of more than 5 hours, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 also provides for the possibility of obtaining a full refund .

Please note! A refund means the cancellation of the ticket. This implies that you forfeit taking your flight. At the same time, you forfeit any assistance from the airline.

You also forfeit receiving any compensation, even if you are eligible.

The European compensation system

Indeed, European regulations provide for a system of fixed compensation in the event of flight delays, cancellation or overbooking. If you find yourself in one of these situations, you may be eligible.

Delays are common, but most of the time, they do not exceed certain limits. Otherwise, if the airline is indeed responsible, you can claim compensation. This will depend on the distance travelled:

€250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with at least 3 hours delay
€400 for a non-community flight of 1500 to 3500 km or a community flight of more than 1500 km with at least 3 hours delay
€600 for a non-community flight of more than 3500 km with at least 4 hours delay.

In the event of cancellation, the calculation grid is the same, but you can also claim compensation for a lesser delay. This will be subject to a reduction (-50%).

You may also be denied boarding due to overbooking. In other words, the airline sold more tickets than there were seats on the aircraft.

This practice is not illegal, but it requires the airline to offer you an alternative flight or refund you. Additionally, overbooking also entitles you to compensation.

Was your flight disrupted? You may be entitled to compensation

If your flight experienced a delay, cancellation, or overbooking, at Nantes Atlantique Airport for example, it falls under European regulation.

Provided you meet all the conditions, you are entitled to a fixed compensation. However, knowing your rights and enforcing them can sometimes be worlds apart.

The process is lengthy, and the response time too. But the good news is, you don't have to do it alone.

Delayed, a specialist in air passenger rights, supports you in your claims.