If your flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked, you have a right to care.
In most instances, this translates to complimentary meals and accommodation.
Should there be a delay, cancellation, or last-minute change in your Air Malta flight, rest assured that you are entitled to specific services at no cost. If the delay extends to 3 hours or more, provisions for free meals and beverages are made. In case the delay stretches overnight, Air Malta is obligated to provide you with a hotel room, free of charge.
Right to Care From Air Malta
Under European legislation, the rights of air passengers are safeguarded.
Passengers flying with Air Malta have a right to care in case of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, as stipulated by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
Short Delays (3+ Hours)
You are entitled to: meal and beverage provision.
If the delay lasts for three or more hours but remains short and occurs in the daytime, Air Malta is obligated to provide you with free meals and beverages. Additionally, you have the option to make two complimentary phone calls and send emails, or faxes. These provisions are provided in the form of vouchers.
Long Delays (Overnight)
You are entitled to: meals, beverages, accommodation, and airport transfers.
In case the flight delay extends overnight, Air Malta is responsible for providing complimentary accommodation, airport transfers, meals, and beverages. If you have not received information regarding these arrangements, reach out to Air Malta promptly.
How to Get Free Food and Free Hotel Accommodation?
If you find yourself with a long wait at the airport, Air Malta should provide you with amenities such as complimentary food, accommodation, and airport transfer. These should be provided to you while you wait, without the need for a request.
In the absence of these services, it is advisable to visit the Air Malta customer service desk and inquire about them. The airline is obligated by European law to provide these services free of charge during qualified delays.
In infrequent circumstances where the airline fails to organize these services for you, you might need to arrange them independently. Keep any receipts or proof of purchase connected to meals, beverages, transfers, and hotel accommodations. Once in hand, you can submit a reimbursement request to Air Malta, providing your expenses during the delay. Be sure to provide all necessary details to facilitate a smooth reimbursement process.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Let’s start by clarifying the term.
What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?
The term ‘extraordinary circumstances’ applies to situations that are out of the airline’s control leading to alterations, delays, or cancellations of flights. Such instances may encompass extreme weather conditions, labour strikes that are not connected to the airline, security threats, political disruptions, or hidden manufacturing defects that could compromise flight safety.
In cases of extraordinary circumstances, the airline doesn’t bear the responsibility to compensate under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, since they are considered exemptions. Nonetheless, passengers still have a right to care.
Are Technical Problems Considered Extraordinary Circumstances?
Generally, technical issues are not categorized as extraordinary circumstances under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. As per the regulation, technical difficulties arising from regular airline operations aren’t seen as extraordinary, because they fall within the airline’s sphere of control.
These might contain routine maintenance or minor repairs. Such matters are part of the usual obligations of an airline and thus cannot be used as an excuse to avoid compensating or caring for passengers.
However, if it’s a hidden manufacturing defect that compromises flight safety, it might be deemed as extraordinary. This is primarily because such situations are uncommon, put immediate risk to the safe operation of the aircraft, and don’t fall into the realm of an airline’s regular technical activities.
Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances
Passengers have a right to care even in extraordinary circumstances.
While Air Malta may not necessarily have to compensate for disruptions caused by circumstances beyond their control, they are obliged to ensure passenger comfort during the delay. The provision of meals, drinks, and accommodation in case of delays is part of this requirement.
The same rule applies to providing alternate transportation in case of flight cancellations – passengers are entitled to this.
Right to Care From Air Malta: FAQ
In this part, we will tackle frequently asked questions about passengers’ rights to care during flight delays and cancellations with Air Malta.
What Does “Right to Care” Mean?
The right to care is a principle enshrined in European law, mandating airlines to ensure the comfort of their passengers during flight delays, overbooking, and cancellations. This includes providing free meals, refreshments, and in the event of significant delays, accommodation.
Do I Have a Right to Care if My Flight Is Delayed?
If your Air Malta flight is delayed by 3 hours or more, the airline should automatically provide you with amenities like free meals, refreshments, and necessary accommodations for overnight delays. If these services are not offered, you should reach out to the Air Malta customer service desk at the airport.
Alternatively, you may pay for these services yourself and then file a claim for reimbursement later.
Do I Have a Right to Care if My Flight Is Cancelled?
Yes, if your flight is cancelled last minute, your right to care remains valid.
This means Air Malta is obliged to provide you with meals, refreshments, and accommodation if necessary, as well as alternative transportation to your final destination.
If the cancellation is due to an error on the airline’s part, you may also be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
Do I Have a Right to Care if My Flight Was Cancelled or Delayed Due to Extraordinary Circumstances?
Yes, even in extraordinary circumstances (events that are beyond the airline’s control), you have the right to care. So, if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to severe weather, security threats, strikes unrelated to the airline, you are still entitled to complimentary meals, refreshments, and accommodation, if necessary.
How Do I Make a Claim for Reimbursement If I Had to Arrange My Accommodation and Meals?
If you were forced to arrange your meals, accommodation, or airport transfers due to Air Malta’s failure to do so, retain all receipts and proof of purchase. These, coupled with a detailed account of your expenses during the delay, can be submitted to Air Malta for reimbursement.
Note that the policy applies only to essential expenses.
Does the Right to Care Apply to All Air Malta Flights?
The right to care is applicable to all Air Malta flights departing from and arriving in Europe.
As an EU airline, Air Malta is subject to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which stipulates the right to care for all flights within Europe.
Please note that if you travel with a non-European airline, this regulation only applies to these airlines’ flights departing from Europe.
Are These Rights Reserved for Europeans Only?
No, the right to care extends to all passengers on Air Malta flights, regardless of their nationality.
The laws conferring the right to care, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and Regulation UK261, pertain to any airline operating within Europe. Thus, all passengers on Air Malta flights have the right to care, irrespective of their nationality.
The only exception is for non-European airlines where these laws are only applicable to flights departing from Europe.
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.