
Strike at Icelandair
You may be entitled to compensation for a strike
The Icelandair strike may have caused your flight to be delayed or cancelled. It’s possible that you have a right to compensation. To find out more, or to check if you qualify, please continue reading.
If Icelandair employees go on strike, your flight could be impacted. You have rights, including the entitlement to compensation. Our article outlines your rights and offers tips on what to do (and what not to do) in the event of a Icelandair strike.
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Icelandic air traffic control strikes to affect thousands of Christmas flyers
After weeks of uncertainty due to volcanic activity, Icelandic aviation is being hit by a further problem: industrial action by air traffic controllers this Christmas, with the timing of strikes said to be targeted to maximise disruption for the country’s flag carrier Icelandair.
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07-05-2024
Keflavík Airport Strikes Cancelled
Labour negotiations between Keflavík Airport employees and Isavia were suspended on Monday night, May 6, following a ten-hour meeting between representatives and the State Conciliation and Mediation Officer.
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18-12-2017
Icelandair Airline Engineers On Strike
As expected, airline engineers for Icelandair have gone on strike. Many flights today are cancelled, and no new negotiations are pending at this time.
Numerous flights have been cancelled due to the strike by Icelandair employees
Many flights have been cancelled due to the strike at Icelandair, leaving numerous travelers in a difficult position. For some passengers, the cancellation may even mean they cannot continue with their trip as planned.
Wondering if you’re eligible for compensation after your flight was cancelled or delayed because of an airline strike? Put your doubts to rest with our free flight check.
Right to care with delays longer than 2 hours
If you’re facing an unplanned strike, it can take you by surprise. If you’re at the airport and your Icelandair flight is delayed for more than 2 hours, you have the right to food, drink, and even a hotel stay if needed. In some cases, the airline will provide vouchers for food and drink, but it’s important to keep receipts if they’re not provided.
You are not required to accept an alternate flight from Icelandair
In case of a disruption, the airline must offer you an alternative flight free of charge. The airline should provide you with the first possible flight, but if all the next flights are fully booked, you might receive an alternative option that may not make sense for your travel plans.
You have the right to decline the proposed flight. The airline must then refund you the ticket price. If the airline does not offer you an alternative or if you find a better option yourself, the airline must reimburse you for the price difference between the two tickets.
Tip: Before doing anything, it’s best to wait for a final notice from Icelandair
There may be few alternative flights available from other airlines. Of course, you want to secure another flight as soon as possible. However, we advise you not to book an alternative flight yourself before you have received final confirmation from Icelandair that your flight has been cancelled. If the strike is called off, you will lose your money.
Affected by the strike of Icelandair? You are entitled to compensation
In the event of a strike by the airline’s own personnel, such as pilots, cabin crew, or ground staff, Icelandair can be held accountable. According to Regulation 261/2004, this is not considered force majeure, and you have the right to compensation if your arrival is delayed by more than 3 hours or you arrive 1 hour earlier.
The compensation amount is based on the distance of your travel and whether the cancellation of your flight was communicated less than 2 weeks before your departure.

Compensation by Distance
- €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
- €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km
- €600 for flights over 3,500 km
Compensation per passenger
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€250
Short distance
<1500 km
London – Benidorm
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€400
Medium distance
1500 – 3500 km
Dublin – Tenerife
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€600
Long distance
>3500 km
Edinburgh – Singapore
Check if you are entitled to compensation
You can easily check if you are entitled to compensation as a result of the strike at Icelandair in our database. Enter your flight number and we will indicate whether you qualify for compensation. Then you can submit a claim in just a few minutes. EUclaim will take care of the rest

Monitored by Paul
Paul Vaneker is Senior Flight Intelligence and has worked at KLM and Transavia. Appears frequently in the media to stand up for passenger rights.
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