Compensation for Flight Delays: Commentary on Cass. civ., Sez. III, Ord. n. 6446/2024

The ruling of the Court of Cassation n. 6446 of 2024 represents an important step forward in the protection of air passenger rights in the event of delays. In this order, the Court examined the case of a passenger who, due to a delay of nearly six hours, requested compensation under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. The Court confirmed that the right to compensation is not conditioned by the physical presence of the passenger at the airport during the delay, but by the mere occurrence of the delay itself.

The Case Examined by the Court

A.A. sued the airline Neos Spa for compensation of 600 euros, claiming that the flight delay caused him distress. The airline contested the right to compensation, asserting that A.A. had been notified of the rescheduling of the flight and therefore did not suffer any real distress. However, the Justice of the Peace rejected the claim, while the Court of Busto Arsizio, on appeal, accepted A.A.'s request.

The right to monetary compensation for the passenger of the delayed flight arises not from the distress of the nerve-wracking wait at the airport, but from the mere fact of a delay exceeding three hours.

Legal Principles Established by the Court

In its decision, the Court of Cassation reaffirmed several fundamental principles:

  • The right to compensation is automatic in the event of a delay exceeding three hours, as provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.
  • It is not necessary for the passenger to demonstrate that they suffered individual harm; the mere fact of the delay is sufficient.
  • Advance communication by the airline cannot justify the passenger's obligation to be at the airport at the originally scheduled time.

Conclusions

The ruling of the Cassation offers significant protection to passenger rights, clarifying that compensation should not be subordinated to any distress experienced at the airport, but must be guaranteed automatically in the presence of a significant delay. This jurisprudential orientation marks an important step towards greater accountability for airlines and more effective consumer protection in the air transport sector.

Bianucci Law Firm