Did You Have Your Flight Canceled Due to a Strike? Learn How to Guarantee Your Rights!

Did you have a last-minute flight cancellation and the airline gave you no support? Know that, even if the cancellation was caused by an employee strike or airport service strike, you may be entitled to compensation.

This situation is more common than it seems. Recently, the São Paulo Court of Justice (Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo) ordered LATAM to pay moral damages to a passenger whose flight was canceled due to a strike in Argentina. The reason? The company failed to provide adequate assistance, did not give advance notice, and did not offer viable alternatives.

What are your rights as an air passenger?

Even in situations caused by external factors, such as strikes, the airline remains responsible for providing assistance. Here's what you are entitled to demand:

Full refund of the ticket price or rebooking on another flight, at no additional cost;

Meals, lodging, and transportation, if the passenger needs to wait;

Compensation for moral damages (non-material harm such as emotional distress), if there was suffering, anguish, or embarrassment caused by the failure in service.

Important:

Strikes, bad weather, operational issues… The airline cannot simply exempt itself from its obligations. The passenger is a consumer and has legal protection.

What to do if your flight is canceled?

Keep documents: emails, tickets, receipts, proof of expenses.

Request immediate assistance from the airline.

File complaints with ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) and Procon (Consumer Protection Agency).

Consult a lawyer specialized in air passenger rights.

You are not alone. Whether your flight is canceled or delayed, you have rights. And they must be respected!