When flights get delayed or cancelled, many travellers worry whether they’re actually entitled to help — especially if they’re visiting Europe from abroad. A very common question is: “Is the right to care only for EU citizens?”
The answer is simple: No. The right to care applies to every passenger, regardless of nationality.
Whether you’re from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, or anywhere else, you receive the exact same treatment under EU261 when a disruption happens.
Let’s break down what that means for you.
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What Is the Right to Care?
The right to care is a set of protections airlines must provide during long delays, cancellations, or overnight disruptions. These include:
- Meals and refreshments during long waits (3 hours or more)
- Free communication, such as phone calls or emails (when a wait is 3 hours or more)
- Hotel accommodation if you need to stay overnight
- Transport between the hotel and airport (if you need to stay overnight)
These services are free and must be provided by the operating airline — in this case, Transavia.
And importantly — your nationality plays no role whatsoever in whether you receive them.
Who Qualifies for the Right to Care?
Every passenger qualifies for the right to care as long as their flight is covered by EU261 Regulation — nationality, age, and ticket type do not matter.
You are protected if your flight departs from the EU/EEA/UK, or if you are arriving in the EU on an EU/EEA/UK airline. That’s all that matters. If the flight meets one of these conditions, everyone on board is entitled to the right to care.
Everyone is entitled to the right to care:
- All EU/EEA/UK citizens
- Non-EU travelers visiting Europe
- Tourists from outside Europe
- Children and infants
- Business travelers, holidaymakers, and backpackers alike
When Does the Right to Care Apply?
You are entitled to care when your flight experiences:
- Long delays (usually from 3 hours)
- Last-minute cancellations
- Missed connections on a single-ticket itinerary
- Denied boarding due to overbooking
It doesn’t matter what caused the disruption — even extraordinary circumstances like bad weather or air traffic control strikes still trigger the right to care.
Nationality Doesn’t Matter — Examples
Here are a few real-world examples to make it clear:
- A Canadian tourist waiting in Barcelona because of a 5-hour delay → fully entitled to care
- A Japanese business traveler stuck overnight in Paris due to a cancellation → hotel + meals provided
- A Brazilian family in Rome whose flight is delayed by 3 hours → receives meals and communication access
- An American stuck in Amsterdam Airport due to a missed connection → same care rights as any EU citizen
- Any passenger delayed on a Cairo–Amsterdam flight with Transavia → fully entitled to care, as the flight is operated by an EU carrier.
Regulation EU261 protect every passenger equally.
Why Is the Right to Care Universal?
EU261 is designed to protect all air passengers affected by disruptions in Europe. The regulation is intentionally non-discriminatory, ensuring that:
- Airlines cannot treat passengers differently based on nationality
- All travellers receive equal support during delays
- Safety, comfort, and fairness are upheld for everyone
In simple terms: If you bought a ticket and your flight qualifies under EU rules, you get the right to care — no matter where you come from.
Read more:
- Transavia Flight Delay Compensation
- Transavia Flight Cancellation Compensation
- Transavia Denied Boarding Compensation
- Transavia Missed Connection Compensation
The right to care is a universal protection under EU261 and UK261. It applies to every single passenger, from any country, on any qualifying flight.
Featured photo by Lara Jameson from Pexels