Flight compensation in Georgia — delays and cancellations

The rules apply to passengers departing from an airport in Georgia with a Georgian or foreign operating air carrier, and to passengers flying from another country to Georgia with a Georgian operating air carrier, unless they received compensation or assistance in that country (Rules, Article 1, point 2). They do not apply to free tickets or reduced fares not available to the public (Article 1, point 5).

The carrier's obligations are also governed by Article 75 of the Air Code. The rules do not limit the passenger's right to go to court (Article 3, point 9).

Amount of compensation

The amounts are set by Article 7; distance is measured along the great-circle route — the shortest line between two points (Article 3, point 10). If you were offered an alternative route and did not arrive later than the limits set by the rules, the carrier may reduce the compensation by 50% (Article 7, points 2 and 3). Compensation is paid in cash or by bank transfer.

Delayed flight

• You are entitled to meals, refreshments and two phone calls or emails if the flight is delayed by 2 hours or more for flights up to 1,500 km, 3 hours or more for 1,500–3,500 km and 4 hours or more for over 3,500 km (Article 6, point 1).
• If departure is postponed by at least one day, the carrier must provide a hotel and transport to it (Article 6, point 2).
• With a delay of at least 5 hours you may ask for a ticket refund and a return to your point of departure (Article 3, point 4; Article 6, point 3).
• If you reach your final destination at least 3 hours late, you are entitled to compensation, unless the carrier proves the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken (Article 6, point 4).

Cancelled flight

• You are entitled to meals and communication, and if the alternative flight offered departs at least 24 hours later, also a hotel and transport to it; and a choice between a refund and an alternative route (Article 5, point 1(a); Article 8).
• No compensation is due if you were told about the cancellation at least 14 calendar days before the flight (Article 5, point 1(b.a)).
• If you were told 7 to 14 days before, no compensation is due only if you were offered a flight departing no more than 2 hours earlier and arriving less than 4 hours late (Article 5, point 1(b.b)).
• If you were told less than 7 days before, no compensation is due only if you were offered a flight departing no more than 1 hour earlier and arriving no more than 2 hours late (Article 5, point 1(b.c)).
• The carrier is exempt from compensation if it proves extraordinary circumstances. In a dispute, it must prove that it notified you of the cancellation and when (Article 5, points 2 and 2¹).

The rules define extraordinary circumstances as political instability, weather conditions, unexpected flight-safety or aviation-security risks, strikes and similar events (Article 2(n)).

Denied boarding

• If there are not enough seats, the carrier must first look for volunteers who give up their seats in exchange for benefits (Article 4, point 1).
• If you are denied boarding against your will, you must be paid compensation immediately and given assistance — a refund or an alternative route and free care (Article 3, point 2; Article 4, point 2).
• A refusal due to the passenger's health, flight safety, aviation security or missing travel documents is not denied boarding (Article 2(i)).

Ticket refund or alternative route

When the rules apply, the carrier must give you a choice (Article 8, point 1):

• A refund of the ticket at the price you paid — within 7 days of the flight date, plus a return to your point of departure if needed.
• An alternative route to your final destination at the earliest opportunity.
• An alternative route at a later date convenient to you, subject to seat availability.

If a city has several airports and you are flown to a different one, the cost of getting from there is fully borne by the carrier (Article 8, point 3).

Free care and class changes

• Free care means meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time, a hotel if you must stay overnight, transport between the airport and the hotel, and two phone calls or emails (Article 9, point 1).
• Persons with disabilities, their companions and unaccompanied children must be helped immediately, whatever the length of the delay (Article 11).
• If you are downgraded, within 7 days of the flight you must be refunded 30% (up to 1,500 km), 50% (1,500–3,500 km) or 75% (over 3,500 km) of the ticket price; you cannot be charged extra for an upgrade (Article 10).

Protecting your rights

• When boarding is denied, a flight is cancelled or long delayed, the carrier must inform you in writing (email, SMS) of the compensation and assistance rules, and display a notice in Georgian and English with the Agency's contact details at the check-in desk (Article 13, points 2 and 3).
• Contract terms that limit or waive these rights are not allowed (Article 13, point 5).
• If you accepted lower compensation because you were misinformed, you keep the right to additional compensation (Article 13, point 6).
• Compliance is monitored by the Civil Aviation Agency; carriers that breach the rules are liable under the Code of Administrative Offences (Article 3, points 5 and 7).
• Compensation under the rules does not limit other compensation, though it may be deducted from it (Article 12).