What to do in case of a Volotea strike?

A Volotea strike can completely disrupt your plans: canceled flights, endless delays, missed connections… But did you know that these inconveniences can also entitle you to compensation? At Indemniflight, we help you distinguish between cases where the airline is responsible and therefore obliged to compensate you, and those where it can avoid this obligation.

Indeed, not all strikes are treated the same under the law:

• If the industrial action comes from Volotea staff (pilots, flight attendants, stewards, etc.), the airline is directly responsible and must compensate you.
• However, if the strike involves third parties such as air traffic controllers or airport staff, Volotea can be exempted if it proves that this is an extraordinary circumstance.

Confusing? Don’t worry, we are here to defend your rights and maximize your chances of compensation. Read on to learn how to receive up to €600 in compensation, with no upfront fees, when your trip has been affected by a Volotea strike.

How to receive compensation during a strike?

Volotea, a low-cost airline launched in 2011 in Barcelona, now serves over 100 destinations across Europe, with a strong presence in medium-sized cities. Despite its strategic positioning and rapid growth, the airline is not immune to the uncertainties of air travel, especially labor strikes.

A flight delayed or canceled due to a strike can quickly become a nightmare: shortened vacations, missed commitments, unexpected expenses… Fortunately, European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protects air passengers in these situations. Here’s what you need to know to assert your rights.

Your passenger rights are protected by law

When your trip is disrupted by a strike, your rights are clearly defined by European legislation. This regulation requires airlines to compensate passengers under certain conditions, particularly when the strike comes from the airline’s own staff (pilots, cabin crew, technicians, etc.).

In this case, Volotea is responsible for the inconvenience caused and must pay you compensation up to €600 per passenger, depending on the flight distance and the length of the delay. This is not just financial compensation but a true acknowledgment of the hardship you endured.

How much compensation can you claim in case of a strike?

The compensation amount depends on two main criteria: flight distance and arrival delay at the airport. Here are the legal limits:

• Minimum 2 hours delay for short-haul flights (distance less than 1500 km);
• Minimum 3 hours delay for medium-haul non-EU flights (more than 1500 km and less than 3500 km) and intra-EU flights over 1500 km;
• Minimum 4 hours delay for long-haul flights (over 3500 km).

For canceled Volotea flights with rerouting, you must have experienced a delay of at least 3 hours upon final arrival to be eligible for compensation.

Not all strikes entitle you to compensation

Only internal Volotea strikes allow for a compensation claim. If the strike is external (e.g., caused by air traffic controllers, airport security staff, etc.), the airline can be exempted if it proves it could not avoid the disruption despite all possible measures.

What conditions must be met to receive compensation during a strike?

Not all strikes automatically grant the right to compensation. To know if you can claim compensation, you must first determine the origin of the labor action. If it is internal to the airline—meaning initiated by its own employees (pilots, cabin crew, ground technicians, etc.)—then you are potentially eligible for compensation.

This is where the European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies. This legislation governs passenger rights in case of flight disruption. But beware: for your compensation claim to succeed, certain specific conditions must be met.

Eligibility criteria for compensation

Here are the main points to consider when claiming compensation from Volotea:

• Your Volotea flight must have departed from an EU member country, or be destined for the EU if the airline is European (like Volotea).
• The strike must be directly attributable to Volotea (an internal company action). If it is external (e.g., air traffic controllers), you generally cannot claim compensation.
• The arrival delay at the airport must be at least 3 hours, or the flight must have been canceled without sufficient prior notice.
• Your claim must be made within the legal deadlines. In France, you have up to 5 years to file a claim; in Belgium, the deadline is only 1 year.

Although these criteria may seem strict, they effectively protect air passengers’ rights throughout Europe.

Cases where you will not be compensated

Certain situations exempt Volotea from any obligation to pay compensation. Here are the main exceptions:

• Unpredictable strike independent of Volotea: if the airline can demonstrate that it had no control over the labor action, it is not obliged to pay compensation.
• Notification given at least 14 days in advance: if Volotea informs you sufficiently early of your flight cancellation, you are not entitled to compensation.
• Exceptional circumstances: cases such as security alerts, natural disasters, or airport strikes fall under this category and release the airline from its obligations.

Not sure if your case qualifies? Don’t worry! Indemniflight will analyze your situation for free and handle your Volotea claim on your behalf, with no hidden fees.

What to do if your Volotea flight is disrupted by a strike?

You had everything planned for your trip, but a labor dispute disrupts your plans at the last minute? Delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding… In these tense moments, it is essential to react in a structured way to maximize your chances of receiving compensation. Here are the right steps to take.

Stay calm and find out the origin of the strike

Before taking any action, clearly identify the source of the labor action:

• Is it caused by Volotea staff (pilots, flight attendants, stewards)?
• Or is it an external strike (security agents, air traffic controllers)?

This point is crucial, as only an internal Volotea strike will allow you to claim compensation. Don’t hesitate to ask airport staff or Volotea customer service for official information about the cause of the delay or cancellation.

Gather all necessary supporting documents

To build a strong case, it is imperative to collect and keep all documents related to your flight, such as your boarding pass, flight reservation confirmation, electronic ticket (e-ticket), and a delay or cancellation certificate issued by Volotea (request it at the airport desk or through their customer service).

These documents are essential to prove your situation and initiate a compensation claim.

Keep receipts for your expenses on-site

In case of a long delay or cancellation, Volotea is obligated to assist you on-site: meals, drinks, phone calls, accommodation if necessary, and transport to the accommodation. However, if these services are not provided, you can cover the costs yourself… provided you keep all receipts for hotel, meals, transport (taxi, shuttle…), and communications.

These receipts will allow you to claim reimbursement of your expenses, in addition to any possible lump-sum compensation.

What amount can you claim in case of flight cancellation or delay?

Do you meet the conditions to receive compensation following a Volotea strike? Good news: the regulations provide fixed amounts, calculated according to the flight distance and not based on the price paid for your ticket.

Here are the compensation amounts you can claim according to the scale set by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

This scale applies in cases of delays of more than 3 hours on arrival, flight cancellations, or denied boarding, provided the strike is caused by Volotea.

Why use Indemniflight for your claim?

Although you can contact Volotea’s customer service directly to claim your compensation, this process often proves lengthy, complex, and unproductive. Airlines frequently refuse claims or invoke extraordinary circumstances to avoid compensation. Indemniflight simplifies your procedures and effectively defends your rights. Simply:

• Submit your file online in a few clicks.
• Let our team of experts analyze your request.
• Allow Indemniflight to handle all negotiations until you receive your compensation.

And above all, you pay no upfront fees! You pay nothing if we do not succeed. If successful, a 35% VAT-inclusive commission is deducted from the compensation paid, and the remainder goes directly to you.

What options do you have in case of a Volotea strike?

Several alternatives exist to continue your journey despite the disruption. Whether you choose to take another flight or opt for another mode of transport, concrete options are available to minimize the impact of the strike.

Book another flight without waiting

When your Volotea flight is delayed or canceled, you can choose to book another flight, either with Volotea or with a competing airline, depending on availability. If the situation is urgent (business trip, family event, international connection…), this option can help minimize the impact of the delay on your schedule. In this case, you have two options:

• Request Volotea to rebook you free of charge on another equivalent flight (subject to availability);
• Book a new flight yourself, then contact Volotea to claim a refund for your original ticket, which the airline must provide within 7 days in accordance with European regulations.

If you accept an alternative proposed by the airline and arrive at your destination with less than 3 hours delay, you may lose your right to additional compensation.

Choose another mode of transport

If the Volotea strike makes any air travel impossible or too uncertain, you can consider alternative transportation methods depending on your route, such as train (especially for intra-European trips like France-Italy or Spain-Portugal), long-distance bus, rental car, or carpooling.

Although they may lengthen the duration of your trip, these means can guarantee that you reach your destination when air options are fully booked or canceled. In any case, remember to keep the proof of your new bookings. These documents can support a partial refund claim or complete a compensation file if you incurred additional expenses.

How to obtain compensation in case of a Volotea strike?

Do you think you are eligible for compensation following a problem with your flight? Good news: European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 protects you. You just need to know how to proceed to make a compensation claim. While the process may seem complex, simple and effective solutions exist to maximize your chances of success.

Check if your Volotea flight is affected by a strike

Before taking any steps, start by verifying whether your flight has indeed been canceled or delayed due to industrial action. Several channels are available to get reliable and fast information:

• Visit the official Volotea website to check the list of impacted flights;
• Download the Volotea mobile app, which allows you to track your flight in real time;
• Contact Volotea customer service directly, by phone or via social media.

Don’t forget to keep all supporting documents related to your booking: ticket, boarding pass, confirmation email, cancellation notice… These will be essential to build your claim file.

File a claim with Volotea (or get support)

It is possible to submit a compensation claim directly to Volotea. To do this, you must:

• Send a detailed written complaint along with proof of the disruption;
• Attach receipts for expenses incurred (food, transport, accommodation…) in case of delay or cancellation;
• If refused or no response is received, contact the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) or initiate legal proceedings.

However, this process is often long, tedious, and not always successful. Many airlines invoke “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid liability.

Save time and energy with Indemniflight

At Indemniflight, we handle your entire compensation claim, from fact analysis to negotiations with Volotea. Our goal: to help you get the compensation you deserve without having to manage technical exchanges or repeated follow-ups.

Our model? No win, no fee: if you don’t get paid, neither do we. If successful, we simply deduct 35% of the amount obtained to cover our expertise fees. Don’t wait any longer: submit your file now on Indemniflight and let our experts defend you effectively.