Avianca flight compensation — what are my rights?
Since Avianca is a non-EU airline, your rights to flight compensation are only protected by British or EU law under certain conditions.
In order for you to be eligible for Avianca flight compensation, your delayed or cancelled flight must have departed from a British or European airport.
Unfortunately, when flying to the UK/EU on a non-EU airline, your passengers' rights are not protected under British and European flight compensation regulations (more details in the table below)..
| Type of flight | Example | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Flying with a British carrier | Tokyo to London with British Airways | Yes |
| Flying with a EU carrier | Amsterdam to London with KLM | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier from the UK | London to Tokyo with Japan Airlines | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier to the UK | Tokyo to London with Japan Airlines | No |
Delayed Avianca flight — get compensation.
If your Avianca flight from the UK/EU was delayed by more than 3 hours, you are likely entitled to flight compensation under British and European regulations. Compensation is only available if the airline is at fault for the delay — the airline won’t give you compensation if the delay was caused by a third party or by force majeure.
Cancelled Avianca flight — refund and compensation rules
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your cancelled Avianca flight, you may be entitled to compensation of up to £520, a ticket refund, or both!!
When can I claim compensation for my cancelled Avianca flight?
According to British and European flight compensation regulations, you can claim compensation for an Avianca flight if the cancellation was announced fewer than 14 days before the departure date.
Avianca must be at fault for the cancellation — see the 'Extraordinary Circumstances' section of this article for more information on when the airline can refuse compensation.
When can I claim a refund for my cancelled Avianca flight?
If your Avianca flight from the UK/EU got cancelled, you can get a refund if:
The airline did not provide you with an alternative flight
The airline did provide you with an alternative flight, but you decided not to take it
| Cancellation notice | Alternative flight | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 7 days in advance | Departs 1h+ earlier or arrived 2h+ later | Yes |
| 7-14 days in advance | Departs 2h+ earlier or arrived 4h+ later | Yes |
| Fewer than 14 days in advance | No alternative flight offered | Yes + refund |
How much Avianca compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
The amount of compensation is determined by the distance of your flight:
| Distance of your flight | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Flights shorter than 1,500 km | Get £220 per passenger |
| Flight between 1,500 and 3,500 km | Get £350 per passenger |
| Flights of over 1,500 kilometres within the EU | Get £350 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres outside of the EU | Get £520 per passenger |
Extraordinary circumstances — can Avianca deny me compensation?
When the delay or cancellation is caused by a third party or force majeure, Avianca has the possibility to refuse compensation. Those situations are referred to as extraordinary circumstances
Some of the most common extraordinary circumstances are:
Bad weather conditions, such as thick fog, heavy rain, or thunderstorms.
A strike, most often specifically within the aviation industry (for example, a strike of air traffic control workers at a specific airport).
However, a strike of the airline's crew is not considered an extraordinary circumstance!
Political circumstances, such as a terrorist attack or general security risk due to political unrest.
Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and hurricanes.
A collision between the aircraft and birds or other foreign objects.
An ill or unruly passenger.
Flight delays caused by the airport staff, such as extraordinarily long queues to security checks.
Beware: airlines sometimes claim that extraordinary circumstances happen, even if that was not the case! They do it in the hope that they won’t have to pay flight compensation to passengers.
How long do I have to claim my Avianca compensation and refund?
If you were flying from the UK, you have 6 years to claim compensation and refund. When flying from another country, different expiry dates for claims may apply.
Check if you can still get compensation and a refund from Avianca with our free Claim Calculator.
How long will it take to get my Avianca compensation / Avianca refund?
When claiming with Flight-Delayed.co.uk, passengers frequently receive their compensation and refunds in a few weeks or months.
If the airline is unresponsive or the claim must be taken to court, the wait time might get extended by several months to several years.
Our team of experts will regularly contact you to share important developments in your case and will be available to answer any questions you may have.
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About Avianca
Avianca is a Colombian airline operating mainly in Latin America. However, the airline is part of the Star Alliance, making it an international airline operating across all five continents. When it comes to Europe, the airline is departing from major airports in 16 countries, such as the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.