AirHelp, a leading flight compensation and passenger rights organisation, is urging passengers to understand their rights ahead of strikes by easyJet’s French cabin crew this weekend, as they could be due compensation.
Half of all the flights by the British budget airline out of the country are expected to be affected – with around 100 flights already cancelled – as cabin crew strike action hits one of the busiest holiday periods of the year. Passengers flying through Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and Lyon are among those facing cancellations and delays.
The disruption is set to hit UK travellers particularly hard. AirHelp data shows that 63% (56,100) of passengers flying out of France with easyJet in the week of 10 – 16 August were travelling to the UK, with over 16,200 passengers over last weekend alone.
Under UK261 regulation, strikes outside of an airline’s control – such as air traffic control, airport security or baggage handlers – are seen as extreme circumstances, however those involving an airline’s staff, including cabin crew, are the responsibility of the airline. As a result, passengers could be due up to £520 in compensation if easyJet cancels their flight with less than 14 days’ notice.
The confusing nature of the regulation means that not many passengers understand the circumstances in which they are due compensation – with a 2025 AirHelp survey finding that 72% of UK passengers didn’t understand their rights – and it is a statistic AirHelp CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn says needs to change.
Pawlizsyn said: “Passengers should not be left to bear the consequences of industrial action without understanding what support they are entitled to.
“With around 100 easyJet flights cancelled in France and further strike action possible in the coming weeks, affected passengers need to know what they’re entitled to. Under UK261, passengers may be entitled to care and, in many cases, compensation when their flight is disrupted.
“When a flight is cancelled, passengers should be offered a choice between a refund and an alternative flight to their destination. Depending on the circumstances and how much notice they receive, they are also entitled to compensation. Even where compensation is not payable, airlines may still have a duty to provide care, including food, refreshments and accommodation where necessary.”
Unions representing easyJet’s French cabin crew have signalled further action until 2 September, meaning disruption could continue for the rest of the summer holidays.
What should passengers do if their flight is cancelled?
Check flight status and airline communications before travelling to the airport
If a flight is cancelled, check whether a refund or an alternative flight has been offered
Keep receipts for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of disruption
Check eligibility for compensation under applicable passenger rights legislation
Allow extra time for connecting flights in case onward travel is affected