Air Malta Flight Delay Compensation

Air Malta flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

Did you know that in some situations you can get compensation for your delayed flight? If you are experiencing a long delay, and this delay is due to the airline’s fault, you can get compensation from Air Malta. It doesn’t matter what is your nationality, age, price of your ticket, or whether or not you have travel insurance. All travellers in the EU are protected under the law, and Air Malta has to follow these laws. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Air Malta Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

Passenger rights in the EU are regulated by the EC Regulation 261/2004. According to this regulation, you can get flight delay compensation if you reach your destination at least 3 hours later than scheduled, and the delay is due to the fault of the airline.

If it’s a European (EU, UK, EEA) airline, the regulation covers all of its flights. If your flight is with a non-European airline (Qatar Airways, Qantas, American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, etc.), it applies only to flights departing from the EU.

If you’re flying to or from Europe, your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Air Malta, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600.

Could you be entitled to Air Malta flight delay compensation?

Yes, if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to the fault of Air Malta;
• Flight is to/from Europe (EU, UK, EEA).

So, all the above mentioned rules apply to all Air Malta delays and cancellations.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation.

Extraordinary circumstances are events out of the airline’s control. Bad weather, natural disaster, security issues, terrorism threat, political unrest and some strikes, just to name a few. If your Air Malta flight is delayed due to any of these events, the airline is not responsible for the delay, and is not obliged to pay compensation. 

What about strikes? Do all strikes qualify as extraordinary circumstances? No, not all strikes qualify as extraordinary circumstances. When it comes to strikes, the EU guidelines are as follows: if an airline’s employees strike, it is the airline’s responsibility. As a result, Air Malta staff strikes are the airline’s responsibility.

Keep in mind that technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances.

If you are claiming compensation on your own, make sure you double check what you’re told. Not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. To avoid paying compensation airlines often refuse compensation claims by telling wrong reasons for delay. Make sure you ask for proof. Be persistent when claiming compensation.

If you don’t want the hassle, work with a flight compensation company. They can check your flight and claim compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Arrival time, not departure time. This also applies to connecting flights with two or more consecutive flight legs. In this case, your destination is your final destination (in other words — your last stop). You calculate the delay time only when you arrive at your final destination. 

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival to your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe you have a right to care. 

The EC Regulation 261/2004 (EU law) states that in the event of a long delay, passengers have a right to receive care from the airline. If your Air Malta flight is delayed for at least 3 hours, and you have to wait at the airport until it departs, you have a right to care.

Air Malta must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Air Malta Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Air Malta owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Air Malta yourself. Contact Air Malta customer support center by using the contact form on their website. Request flight delay compensation from Air Malta. Refer to the above-mentioned regulation, EC Regulation 261/2004. Keep in mind that it might take a few months until you get compensation from the airline.

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

In this case everything is done by a team of legal professionals, a flight compensation company. If the airline refuses to cooperate, the flight compensation company will take all the necessary steps to get compensation.

You just need to fill in and sign one form.

Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Air Malta Compensation?
• Air Malta Missed Connection Compensation
• Your Air Malta Compensation Claim Is Denied. What Next?
• Your Air Malta Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

If everything goes smoothly, you might get compensation in 2-3 months.

If the airline doesn’t cooperate, it will take longer than that. You will need to contact a national enforcement body and ask for assistance, or even take your case to court. All of it takes time. It could add at least a couple of months, sometimes even 6 or more months, to the whole process.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Air Malta delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Air Malta Voucher Refund or Cash?

Have you been offered Air Malta voucher instead of compensation?

Do you have to accept this voucher? No. Normally, in the European Union, airline compensations and refunds are paid in cash or by bank transfer. You don’t have to accept any vouchers or coupons. 

Ask for a bank transfer instead.

Air Malta Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Air Malta flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Air Malta compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.