KLM Strike — Claim up to €600 Compensation

Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to compensation for delays exceeding 3 hours or cancellations of flights departing from the EU. The key question during strikes is: is the strike an "extraordinary circumstance"?

The European Court of Justice ruled in Case C-175/17 (17 April 2018) — the so-called "wildcat strike" case — that a strike by the airline's own staff is NOT an extraordinary circumstance. This means KLM must pay compensation when the strike is carried out by its own pilots, cabin crew, or ground staff.

When you ARE entitled to compensation:

• Strike by KLM pilots → compensation required
• Strike by KLM cabin crew → compensation required
• Strike by KLM ground staff → compensation required
• "Wildcat" strikes (spontaneous actions) → compensation required (ECJ C-175/17)

When you are NOT entitled to compensation:

• Air traffic control (ATC) strike → extraordinary circumstance
• Airport staff strike (not KLM) → extraordinary circumstance
• General national strikes → extraordinary circumstance

KLM Strike History & Unions

KLM is based in Netherlands with main hub(s): AMS. The following unions are active at KLM:

• VNV (Dutch Airline Pilots Association)
• FNV Ground Staff

During previous KLM strikes, flights via AMS were primarily affected. KLM is obligated to actively inform affected passengers about their rights under EU261, including the right to compensation, rebooking, or refund.

FlyClaim.AI continuously monitors all KLM flights and immediately alerts when strike actions affect your flight.

1. Keep all your documents — Boarding pass, booking confirmation, e-tickets, and all communication from KLM.
2. Request written confirmation — Ask KLM for a written statement of the reason for the delay or cancellation.
3. Document additional costs — Keep receipts for meals, hotel, transport, and other expenses incurred due to the strike.
4. Check your compensation — Use the FlyClaim calculator to instantly check how much compensation you can claim.
5. File your claim — FlyClaim.AI automatically sends a legal notice to KLM. The airline has 6 weeks to respond.

The deadline for filing a compensation claim varies by country:

• Netherlands: 3 years
• Germany: 3 years
• France: 5 years
• United Kingdom: 6 years
• Spain: 5 years
• Belgium: 1 year
• Italy: 2 years

Important: Don't wait too long to file your claim. The sooner you act, the stronger your position.