U.S. air travel is slowly recovering after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a nationwide ground stop that halted all departing flights for more than four hours on Friday, November 13.
This marks the longest such shutdown since the 9/11 attacks.
The nationwide ground stop stranded thousands of passengers, but whether you’re owed money depends on where you’re flying and which airline you booked with.
In the U.S., there’s no compensation, but passengers are entitled to a refund.
Under U.S. rules, air traffic control failures are treated as outside the airline’s control, much like bad weather. That means carriers are not required to pay cash compensation, meal vouchers, or hotel costs.
But under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, if your flight is cancelled or “significantly delayed,” three hours for domestic and six hours for international routes, you must be offered a full refund if you choose not to travel, or alternative travel. You can refuse a credit and insist on a monetary refund.
Passengers have more rights if they are flying from the UK or with a UK carrier.
UK law requires airlines to look after passengers whatever the cause of disruption, including air traffic control failures. That means reasonable food and drink (often via vouchers) and free accommodation if you’re stuck overnight.
Compensation for the delay itself may not apply, since the cause is outside the airline’s control, but care costs do.
Europe offers the strongest protections. Under EU261 rules, passengers departing the EU or flying with EU carriers may claim up to €600 for long delays. However, air traffic control outages can be classed as “extraordinary circumstances,” which may exempt airlines from cash payouts.
Keep receipts, request written confirmation of the cancellation reason, and check your airline’s travel alert for free rebooking options. If a refund is refused, escalate to the relevant aviation authority.
