IAA issues Advice for Passengers affected by Heathrow Airport Closure

If your flight is cancelled or is subject to a long delay due to Heathrow Airport Closure you are entitled to your choice of a refund or re-routing to your destination, care and assistance while awaiting rerouting and compensation. This applies to all airlines departing Ireland and passengers booked with EU airlines arriving into Ireland direct from or via Heathrow.

Please contact your airline or visit their live webpage for information on what to do in the event of flight disruptions.

Air Passenger Rights under EU Regulation EC 261 / 2004

Flight Cancellations

In the event that your flight is cancelled then your air carrier must offer you the choice between the following:

• re-routing as soon as possible:
• re-routing at a later date at your convenience: or
• a refund.

If you choose the first option (re-routing as soon as possible) then your air carrier must provide you with care and assistance whilst you wait for the alternative flight. Care and assistance comprises:

• meals & refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time;
• hotel accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary;
• transport between the hotel accommodation and the airport;
• 2 free telephone calls/ access to email.

Flight Delays

If your flight is subject to a long delay (over 2/3/4 hours depending on destination), your airline must provide you with the care and assistance described above. In addition, if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, it must offer you the choice between:

• continuing with your journey: or
• a refund of the cost of your ticket.

Please note that it is not possible for passengers to travel and avail of the full refund.

If your airline does not provide the care and assistance described above, passengers should make their own reasonable arrangements and retain all receipts in the process. Passengers are advised to then submit copies of these receipts to their air carrier for reimbursement.

Compensation

Beyond care, assistance and re-routing, no additional compensation is payable in this circumstance as the event resulting in the closure of the airport was outside of the control of the airlines effected and is deemed an extraordinary circumstance.

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