Prague Airport Compensation for Flight Delays & Cancellations: Live Updates

Amy Lancelotte

By:  Amy Lancelotte

Last Updated:  June 2, 2025

Real-time updates and important information for passengers experiencing delays or cancellations at Prague Airport.

Passenger traffic at Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is growing. In 2023, the number soared 29%, and in 2024, it was up a further 18%. In all, over 16 million people use the airport annually. Unfortunately, this can lead to higher instances of disruptions like delays and cancellations.

The upside is that when passengers experience a disruption here, they may be entitled to up to €600 (£520) in compensation combined with conveniences like meals, transport, and hotels. This is thanks to both Regulation EU261, which covers all flights departing from Prague Airport, and Regulation UK261, which is the UK’s similar legislation.

To exercise your air passenger rights, you’ll need to claim with your airline. It’s time-consuming, and the processes vary, so when you need help or don’t have time for persistent follow-up, rely on AirAdvisor for your claim. With a 98% success rate and over 450,000 happy clients, we’ll go as far as legal action to get the job done!

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600Check Your Flight

Prague Airport – Passenger Rights

With EU261, passengers can claim the following, depending on the circumstances:

• Compensation up to €600/£520
• Assistance in the form of meals, communication, hotel stays, and transport
• Flight refunds

Delays Exceeding 3 Hours

If a flight from Prague Airport is delayed by at least 3 hours, EU261 is triggered. The payout amount will depend on the flight distance, the total delay length, and the cause of the Prague Airport delay.

Flight Cancellations & Refunds

If a Prague Airport flight is cancelled, EU261 also mandates compensation, which depends on the cancellation notification period. In addition, the total interruption time, flight distance, and root cause are factors.

First, when a Prague Airport flight gets cancelled, passengers are entitled to a replacement flight or a refund, regardless of the cancellation timeframe or reason. Compensation is also possible when passengers are notified of the cancellation fewer than 14 days before the scheduled flight. 

But not all re-routed flights are eligible. For example, the airline does not have to issue compensation under Regulation EU261 if:

• Cancellation notice is given between 7 and 14 days, and the replacement flight leaves no more than 2 hours before and arrives less than 4 hours after the original.
• Cancellation notice is less than 7 days, and the new flight departs no more than 1 hour before and lands less than 2 hours after the original.

Lost Luggage at Prague Airport

When checking baggage at Prague Airport, if it’s not returned within 21 days, it’s considered lost, and passengers can claim up to €1,860 (1,519 Special Drawing Rights or £1,580). This depends on the value of the items inside, and a claim must be filed within 7 days.

Passenger Rights in Case of Prague Airport Flight Delays

Passengers are eligible for cash compensation when a Prague Airport flight is delayed by at least 3 hours. And, while waiting at the airport, airlines are required to keep you comfortable, referred to as the right to care. You can get the following, based on the Prague Airport wait time and flight distance:

Prague Airport Flight Delay Compensation

Getting an airline to pay out Prague Airport delay compensation can be tricky. It’s crucial to keep all documents. Hold on to your boarding pass and get the reason for the delay in writing whenever possible.

Make sure you file your Prague Airport flight delay compensation claim in time. In the Czech Republic, passengers have 3 years from the interruption to make a claim, but there’s a catch. You have to notify the airline within the first 6 months.

Delayed Flight Requirements for Compensation

1. Your flight departs from Prague Airport on any airline; or
2. Your flight arrives at Prague Airport on an EU or UK-based airline; and
3. The flight is delayed by 3 hours+; and
4. The airline is the cause of the delay

How Much Can You Claim for Prague Airport Delays

It’s simple, the maximum compensation is based on the overall flight distance:

• Up to 1,500 km: €250/£220
• 1,500 km to 3,500 km: €400/£350
• Over 3,500 km: €600/£520*

*Note that for flights over 3,500km, if the delay is between 3 and 4 hours, airlines will attempt to reduce this to €300/£260. At AirAdvisor, we always go for the maximum amount.

The Prague Airport EU261 Cancelled Flight Law 

Like with delays, passengers can claim up to €600 (£520) for cancelled flights at Prague Airport. As long as a passenger received less than 14 days' notice, the flight cancellation is directly caused by the airline, and if there’s a delay reaching the final destination, EU261 applies.

Prague Airport Cancelled Flight Compensation & Refund

Departing flights cancelled at Prague Airport are leaving from an EU-based airport, so they all meet this requirement for EU261. For a flight arriving at Prague Airport, it must either be with a UK or EU airline or originate in the UK or EU on another airline.

Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flightCheck Your Flight

Cancelled Flight Requirements for Compensation

To claim up to the maximum of €600 (£520), a Prague Airport cancelled flight must:

• Depart from the EU on any airline
• Arrive in the EU on an EU or UK airline
• Be cancelled with less than 14 days' notice

Can I Get a Refund for my Flight from Prague Airport? 

Yes, passengers can get a full refund or choose to re-book if a cancelled flight departs from Prague Airport. Additionally, once a flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, passengers can choose not to continue travelling and get a refund.

Prague Airport Cancelled Flight Compensation You Can Claim

The amount of Prague Airport flight cancellation compensation that passengers can claim differs based on when the flight is cancelled. Other factors include the flight distance and the delay time of the replacement flight compared to the original one (EU261):

Flights Cancelled Within 7 to 14 Days

Flights Cancelled Within 7 days

Delayed, Lost, or Damaged Baggage at Prague Airport

Not only do passengers have protection for flight interruptions, but lost, damaged, or delayed baggage may also entitle passengers to compensation up to approximately €1,860 (1,519 SDR).

• A bag is considered lost if it’s been delayed for at least 21 days
• File a claim within 7 days of the delay, damage, or once it’s declared lost
• Prove the value of the luggage contents with receipts
• For delayed baggage, airlines will cover the bare essentials
• Prove damage with photos

Prague Airport Delays & Cancellations: Top Reasons

Knowing the most common causes of interruptions can help you plan more effectively. Review the weather forecast, research any impending strike action, and follow the news for possible security issues.

Air Traffic Control Restrictions at Prague Airport

ATC is an absolutely crucial service at any airport, so when there are restrictions, planes get backed up, causing cascading delays and potential cancellations. 

Airline Operational Issues

Airlines can impact your flight’s timeliness for several reasons. Unavailability of aircraft due to maintenance issues or improper scheduling, airline staff strikes, and crew shortages can all quickly delay or cancel flights.

In March 2024, Lufthansa planned a strike of cabin crews at both Frankfurt and Munich Airports. The airline had to make mass cancellations, derailing the plans of up to 100,000 passengers. Prague Airport offers many flights to these destinations – passengers were stranded.

Strikes at Václav Havel Airport Prague

Anytime there is an airport strike, delays and cancellations almost always follow. Prague Airport strikes can involve groups like baggage handlers, mechanics, ATC, and security.

Prague Airport experienced issues related to luggage in July 2024, prompting the resignation of the head of the baggage handling department. In response, the Land and Air Trade Union, which represents 400 baggage handlers at Prague Airport, issued a strike alert. The main reason? Insufficient staff and pay to handle the increase in luggage. No strike date was set in this case, luckily.

Delays / Cancellations due to Bad Weather Conditions at Prague Airport

Passengers will see planes grounded at Prague Airport due to severe weather occasionally. This can be anything from dense fog to thunderstorms to gale-force winds. For example, on April 16, 2025, Prague airport halted all arrivals and departures until just before 10 am due to fog. A total of about 20 flights were affected.

Other Incidents at Prague Airport

Although less common, passengers may also experience disruptions due to security threats, runway closures, or technical problems within the airport. 

Prague Airport interruptions can either be due to extraordinary circumstances, which are outside the airline’s control, or something caused by the airline. When extraordinary circumstances, like airport strikes and poor weather, are the cause, EU261 compensation is not payable.

Top 5 Airlines Affected by Delays & Cancellations at Prague Airport

Prague is a destination on many people’s travel lists these days, and according to OAG, in 2024, Prague Airport added the most new routes of any airport worldwide. But all these new flights can add to the disruption rate. Avoid these airlines with the most delays and cancellations, if possible:

• Ryanair
• Eurowings
• Smartwings
• Wizz Air
• Czech Airlines

Claim Prague Airport Flight Compensation With AirAdvisor

When you’ve experienced an annoying cancellation or delay, it’s easy to file a claim with AirAdvisor. In fact, it takes less than 5 minutes. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Gather your documents: This includes boarding passes, any airline or airport written correspondence, and proof of the interruption.
2. Submit the claim: File a claim online here. Enter the details of your flight and add your contact details. Then, attach your supporting documents and submit.
3. Sit back and relax: We’ll process everything for you and communicate back and forth with the airline. Claims are typically resolved successfully in 4-6 weeks.

File your Prague Airport compensation claim ASAP to get what you’re owed. Don’t risk forgetting to make the claim or losing important details and documents!

Prague Airport Questions and Answers

Author:

Amy Lancelotte

Job/Position: Editor

Amy Lancelotte is a writer, editor, and content strategist with seven years experience writing about travel and related topics. Born and raised in Canada, she has spent several years living and working as a digital nomad in England, Italy, and France, and has spent more time in airport departure lounges than she wants to think about.