Austrian Airlines
Delayed or cancelled Austrian Airlines flight: an overview of your rights and how to get up to €600
Austrian Airlines is one of the busiest carriers in Central Europe.
It operates over 200 flights a day to Europe, America, Asia and Africa. In 2024, the company achieved an average OTP (On-Time Performance) of 82%, but there remains a share of flights that are delayed, canceled or overbooked. If this has happened to you, the following lines will help you quickly find out →
When does a claim for financial compensation arise under EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261)?
What amount (€250 – €600) can you expect?
What does the airline have to and doesn't have to reimburse?
What steps should you take – either in person or through a specialized service – if you don't want to spend hours communicating with Austrian Airlines?
When is the right to compensation with Austrian Airlines?
| Situation (flight interruption) | Condition | Minimal delay at destination | Claim under EC 261 |
Delayed flight | The fault must be on the part of Austrian Airlines (e.g. technical failure, crew rotation) | ≥ 3 h | 250 € – 600 € |
Cancelled flight | You were informed about the cancellation < 14 days before departure + the cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances | - | 250 € – 600 € |
Denied boarding (overbooking) | Involuntary refusal without offering an alternative that you voluntarily accept | - | 250 € – 600 € |
Extraordinary circumstances
(without entitlement to compensation)
Extreme weather
(iceberg, strong wind)
Security threat
(bomb scare)
Closed airspace or airport
Airport or air traffic control staff strike
(not airline employees).
Amount of financial compensation
Up to 1 500 km
e.g. Vienna – Brussels
250 € *
1 500 km - 3 500 km
e.g. Vienna – Dubai
400 € *
Over 3 500 km
if the delay is 3 – 4 hours
300 € *
flight between the EU and a third country, delay ≥ 4 hours
600 € *
⚠️ Important: The amount is determined by the distance and actual delay at landing, not at takeoff.
How to proceed with a claim if you want to resolve it yourself
1
Gather evidence: boarding pass, cancellation email, delay confirmation → 5 – 10 min
2
Fill out the complaint form on the Austrian Airlines website → 10 – 20 min
3
Communicate with customer support
(supplementing evidence, resolving rejection) → days – weeks
4
In case of rejection: file a complaint with the Austrian CAA or start legal proceedings → weeks – months
Alternative:
delegation to a specialized service
Many travelers choose to outsource the process to an external partner
(e.g. Flywize), which:
Will check the claim for free
Submits an application and negotiates with the airline
If necessary, resolves the dispute out of court or in court
Pays compensation after deducting the success fee
This way you minimize your own time and the risk of errors, which airlines often use in practice to deny claims.
Austrian specifics and interesting facts about Austrian Airlines
Home base: Vienna-Schwechat Airport (VIE)
Fleet: 75 aircraft (as of 2025) – mainly Airbus A320 family and Boeing 777/767 for long-haul routes
Average fleet age: 14 years – one of the youngest in the region
The busiest European route: Vienna – Frankfurt
This data can help estimate the likelihood of delays; on short European routes, chain delays occur most frequently during morning rush hour and winter months.
Get compensation up to €600
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In both Austria and Slovakia, the limitation period for compensation under the contract of carriage (EC 261) is 3 years from the date of the flight.
Yes, as long as both segments were on one booking and the total delay at the final destination exceeded 3 hours.
No. If the airline offers a voucher instead of cash, you can refuse it and insist on cash compensation.
Summary →
For delays ≥ 3 hours, cancellations < 14 days before departure or overbooking, you are often entitled to €250 - €600.
You can claim compensation yourself, but be prepared for administration and possible rejections.
If you want to save time and avoid legal disputes, entrust the process to professionals - the success fee will only apply if you are successful.
Don't let airlines ignore your rights
With Flywize, the whole process is simple, stress-free and backed by legal expertise. Airlines often don't inform you of your rights - we do.