Short-haul airline passengers who are delayed by more than three hours can expect to be paid compensation, following news that several airlines have lost a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice.

These airlines, which included Lufthansa, British Airways, and easyJet, had challenged a 2009 ruling that passengers on flights to and from Europe should be compensated if they are delayed in reaching their final destination for more than three hours.

In its ruling, the Court stated, "Where passengers reach their final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, they may claim fixed compensation from the airline, unless the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances."

These extraordinary circumstances can include a strike or bad weather conditions, but not delays due to mechanical problems. The compensation will also apply if passengers are re-routed by the airline on another flight, as long as they still arrive three or more hours late.

Passengers on flights starting or ending in the 27-country European Union are entitled to between 250 and 600 euros for delayed or cancelled flights under EU rules.

Photo by Flickr user Red Junasun

Note that these rules also apply to any flight outside the EU which takes place on an EU-based airline!

Sources: Bloomberg, The Daily Mail

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