Cancelled flights

[hi2u_uk]

Hello
Today a bus caught fire outside stanstead airport so all flights to and from the airport were cancelled. According to the internet you can claim compensation for delayed or cancelled flights from the airline but it seems to suggest that the fault must be due to the airline.A coach catching fire outside the airport doesnt seem to have anything to do with the airline. Is compensation likely?

 

[takno]

Hello
Today a bus caught fire outside stanstead airport so all flights to and from the airport were cancelled. According to the internet you can claim compensation for delayed or cancelled flights from the airline but it seems to suggest that the fault must be due to the airline.A coach catching fire outside the airport doesnt seem to have anything to do with the airline. Is compensation likely?

You were inconvenienced and are presumably out of pocket due to their failure to run a flight, so at the very least you're entitled to ask. I'd have thought they would be responsible for the airport's failures as the airport were acting as their agent, but I'm no expert. If you put in a claim, they'll either pay up or dispute it. If they do dispute it you can decide whether you want to get into the ins and outs of it at that point.

 

[Adlington]

The Independent writes:

While [the passengers] can reclaim their air fare, no compensation will be paid because the event was beyond the control of the airlines.

Travellers who have booked accommodation or car rental separately may still be liable to pay for it, and will have to try to claim on travel insurance.

Passengers who decide to continue with their journeys could be told that their airline has no seats for several days. If so, they can insist that the airline pays for a flight on a rival carrier.

 

[hi2u_uk]

The Independent writes:

interesting, i couldn't find a flight to where i want to go today so am having to fly tomorrow . This has put me out of pocket as i had to get the train yesterday to leave stanstead and get a train to stanstead tomorrow , plus my trip is now shortened by 2 days . Its also a bit worrying that a bus caught fire hopefully there were no passengers in it. There seem to be a lot of companies out there who specialise in this type of claim so i have contacted one

 

[Mojo]

FWIW it was a shuttle bus to the official long stay Stansted Airport Parking and not just a random coach or a bus operated by another parking supplier.

 

[AlterEgo]

interesting, i couldn't find a flight to where i want to go today so am having to fly tomorrow . This has put me out of pocket as i had to get the train yesterday to leave stanstead and get a train to stanstead tomorrow , plus my trip is now shortened by 2 days . Its also a bit worrying that a bus caught fire hopefully there were no passengers in it. There seem to be a lot of companies out there who specialise in this type of claim so i have contacted one

You won’t get any compensation. It is very strictly administered as anyone who posts on Flyertalk will be able to attest.

This wasn’t within your airline’s control. I wouldn’t waste your time.

You should claim from your travel insurer for whatever costs they allow.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They are responsible for subsistence costs if you were delayed. But EU261 compensation only applies where the event is within the control of the airline or their agent.

The bus was the airline's agent's bus, and engineering issues are within the airline's agent's control. But a fire like this probably is force majeure.

 

[Wirewiper]

You would not be eligible for delay compensation under EU261 rules as the closure of the airport was beyond the control of the airline.

Nevertheless the Airline still has "Duty of Care" responsibilities, and should pay reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly connected with the flight cancellation - so meals, hotel accommodation, rebooking - or arrange these themselves (given the numbers affected, it would probably have been easier to make your own arrangements and keep receipts). Or they should give you a full refund without question if you decide not to travel at all.

What are called "consequential losses" - e.g. extra car parking, loss of paid-for accommodation - are never the responsibility of the airline under any circumstances, and you are expected to recoup such losses under travel insurance, or simply forego them.