Urgent Changes: Budapest flights cancelled, strike threatens to ruin Easter plans

Flights operated by Austrian Airlines in Budapest have been canceled at the beginning of the Easter travel season due to an upcoming strike by the airline’s employees on Thursday and Friday. Passengers are advised to exercise caution as airlines may not always adhere to compensation rules during disruptions.

A strike in Austria has disrupted air travel during the busy Easter holidays, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, including Hungarians, and impacting the start of the regional tourism season, according to Economx.

The dispute between the Vida union, representing flight and ground staff, and the employer remains unresolved, leading to a warning strike by 3,500 workers of Austrian Airlines from midnight Thursday to noon Friday. The airline has canceled 400 flights, affecting around 50,000 passengers who will be notified directly.

This strike underscores a significant divide between worker and company interests, resulting in losses for the airline and the tourism industry due to canceled trips.

Hungarian travelers flying between Budapest and Vienna are also facing disruptions due to the Austrian Airlines strike. Flights from Budapest to Vienna and vice versa have been cancelled, causing inconvenience for passengers.

Austrian Airlines’ strike is part of broader labor unrest within Lufthansa (the parent company of Austrian Airlines), where workers are demanding higher wages. The strike is expected to result in significant financial losses for Austrian Airlines and highlights disparities in pay between Lufthansa and its subsidiary’s employees.

Compensation for canceled flights

The Austrian Agency for Passenger and Passenger Rights advises affected passengers to contact their airline for compensation. Options include a refund, an alternative flight or a similar destination.

Compensation amounts vary based on factors such as cancellation notice period and differences in alternative transport options. Typically, no compensation is offered if passengers are informed less than seven days before the flight, and the alternative flight is within a certain time frame of the original schedule.

Photo: FB/Budapest Airport

Impact on tourism

The escalating wage disputes and strikes in the transport sector, such as the recent one affecting Austrian Airlines, mean significant labor-management conflicts or wide gaps in wage negotiations.

Gábor Varga, an aviation expert, noted to Economx that strikes during peak travel seasons like Easter can lead to substantial losses for airlines, passengers and tourism as well. The timing of the strike during a busy travel period can disrupt travel plans for migrant workers, leisure travelers and families on school holidays, potentially causing travelers to postpone or cancel their trips.

Photo: FB/Budapest Airport

What to expect in the following season?

Passengers should remain vigilant regarding flight cancellations caused by strikes, as airlines may not always fulfill compensation obligations. While airlines often cite strikes as “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid compensation, a European Court of Justice ruling clarified that strikes organized by an airline’s staff union for wage negotiations do not qualify as such.

However, distinctions are made between strikes by airline staff, airport employees, or air traffic controllers; only strikes by the airline’s own employees require compensation. Passengers should be aware of their rights and potential compensation entitlements in such situations.

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