Palma de Mallorca Airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport, located on the island of the same name, is Spain's third busiest airport, handling 26 million passengers each year.
It opened to the public in 1958 at Son Sant Joan. Originally a military airport, the Spanish Army gradually reduced its operations there, eventually making way entirely for civil aviation.
Today, Mallorca is not only the largest island in the Balearics, but also one of the main islands in the Mediterranean. Unsurprisingly, it attracts tourists from all over Europe and North Africa.
Which travellers are covered by European regulations? We explain it in this article.
Your rights at Palma de Mallorca Airport
Although the Balearics are islands, they are part of Spain. Therefore, they belong to the European Community area. Thus, European regulations apply to this territory.
And of course, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 also applies. This regulation guarantees a number of rights for air passengers within the European Community area.
Among other things, it provides a fixed compensation scale in cases of delay, cancellation, or denied boarding.
Amount of compensation
This compensation depends on the distance travelled by your flight and the delay upon arrival.
In the event of rerouting, a reduction may be applied to this compensation, but the basic scale is as follows:
- €250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with more than 2 hours delay
- €400 for an intra-community flight of more than 1500 km or an extra-community flight of 1500 to 3500 km with more than 3 hours delay
- €600 for an extra-community flight of more than 3500 km with more than 4 hours delay.
Which flights are covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004?
This regulation applies to:
- any flight departing from an airport within the European Community area (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland)
- any flight arriving at an airport within the European Community area (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland) operated by an airline based in one of these countries.
If your flight departs from Palma de Mallorca Airport, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies, unless you are in transit. If your flight is arriving at Palma de Mallorca, it depends on the airport you departed from and the airline operating the flight. The airline itself must be based within the Community area.
Strike at Palma de Mallorca Airport
The compensation provided by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 is not automatic. It requires that the responsibility of the airline is established.
Whether a flight operates does not depend solely on airlines. Other people work there and they have different employers. Baggage handlers work for third-party companies. Air traffic controllers work for the airports, etc. If they are on strike, the airline is not responsible, and therefore does not have to compensate you. However, if it is the airline's crew, then the airline is responsible and must compensate you.
Compensation for a flight delay at Palma de Mallorca Airport
If your flight is delayed, compensation applies according to the fixed scale provided by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. However, if the delay is below the thresholds set by the regulation, you will not be entitled to any compensation.
Claiming compensation for a cancelled flight at Palma de Mallorca
In the event of cancellation, the situation is different. It involves the complete cancellation of your flight, and possibly the arrangement of a new flight with a new number.
If your flight is cancelled, you will be entitled to compensation. But if the delay caused is below the thresholds, this will be subject to a reduction. It is reduced:
- from €250 to €125 for a flight of less than 1500 km with less than 2 hours delay
- from €400 to €200 for an intra-community flight of more than 1500 km or an extra-community flight of 1500 to 3500 km with less than 3 hours delay
- from €600 to €300 for an extra-community flight of more than 3500 km with less than 4 hours delay.
Overbooking at Palma de Mallorca Airport
If your flight has experienced overbooking, the airline may deny you boarding. In this case, they must compensate you according to the fixed scale provided by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. If they manage to reroute you within a reasonable time, this compensation may be subject to the same reduction as in the case of a cancellation.
What to do in case of a flight issue at Palma de Mallorca Airport?
If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you are likely to find out from the airport displays. In the case of denied boarding, it is more likely that you will be informed by the airline's ground staff.
In all cases, the airline remains your primary point of contact. Make sure to:
- ask for the reason for the incident
- inquire about the resolution times
- if you have been denied boarding, request the fixed compensation you are entitled to
- if your delay means you need to eat or sleep at the airport, ask the airline to cover these costs. They are obliged to do so.
- You are entitled to two phone calls. If someone is waiting for you upon arrival, use them to inform them.
In the event of cancellation or overbooking, you can request a refund. However, be aware that this means you forfeit taking that flight. You also waive your rights with the airline in the process.
Delayed assists you in case of disruption at Palma de Mallorca Airport
Have you not claimed the compensation you believe you are entitled to and are worried it might be too late? Most EU member states give you two years to make a claim.
If compensation times are lengthy and the outcome is not always certain, you have a solution: let a specialist company handle it for you.
Delayed, a specialist in air passenger rights, manages your claim. If you have experienced a delay, flight cancellation, or overbooking, contact us and recover up to €600.