Anyone flying to Italy should know their cancellation rights following the eruption of Mount Etna this weekend.
On Sunday, Europe's most active volcano spewed a dark plume of ash which rained down on Catania in Sicily, resulting in flight suspensions at the city's airport. The eruption also released molten lava, but no injuries have been reported.
While it is rare, volcanic activity is highly disruptive, especially when it comes to air travel. Therefore, it's important to know if your rights should one cancel your flight - but you may not be entitled to compensation, as reported by the Mirror.
Mount Etna isn't the only volcano to explode over the weekend, after Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico Saturday took off on Saturday. As a result, the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City was temporarily shut down, but has since re-opened.
Back in 2010, 10 million passengers were impacted following the Eyjafjallajökull explosion in Iceland, resulting in a huge ash cloud that reached eight kilometres into the atmosphere.
Here's what you should know if your flight gets cancelled due to volcanic eruption.
What you're entitled to in a 'freak weather event'
If a flight is cancelled due to volcanic eruption, airlines in most cases don't need to offer compensation.
If a flight is cancelled because of an event that is considered ‘freak’ or ‘wholly exceptional’, then the airline does not need to pay customers compensation.
Although volcanic activity is easier to predict than summertime snow storms and flash floods, eruptions are still considered freak weather events.
For example, if it snowed in Egypt during the summer and the runway was judged to be too slippery for planes to safely take off, the aviation firm would not need to pay out compensation as such weather couldn't realistically be predicted in such a warm country.
Delays due to volcanic activity and ash clouds are considered an extraordinary circumstance, even when scientists have predicted that a volcano may soon erupt.
That means you're unlikely to be able to claim back any compensation if your flight is cancelled and your holiday is disrupted.
In some cases you might be able to claim compensation for a flight impact by volcanic activity, if your flight was delayed because of the knock-on effects of a different flight being affected by the eruption.
For example, if you are booked to fly from Manchester to Paris, but the airline cancels the flight citing an ash cloud over Italy (where the aircraft was before arriving in Manchester), you may be able to claim.
What airlines must provide
However, airlines still need to provide care and assistance, such as overnight accommodation and food and drink, if you find yourself unable to fly because of such an event.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines must provide passengers with the following things until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.
- A reasonable amount of food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers)
- A means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls)
- Accommodation, if you are re-routed the next day (usually in a nearby hotel)
- Transport to and from the accommodation (or your home, if you are able to return there)
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
