HiSky Flight Delayed: Your Rights and How to Claim Compensation

If your HiSky flight arrived at your destination 3 hours or more behind schedule, you may be entitled to fixed compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger. Under European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Republic of Moldova Government Decision No. 836/2012, or UK261 law, air passengers are legally protected when delays occur due to airline operational issues. In addition to monetary compensation, HiSky must provide immediate care at the airport, including complimentary meals, drinks, and hotel accommodation for long delays. Trouble Flight helps passengers enforce their legal rights without stress or paperwork. Check whether your flight qualifies today using Trouble Flight's simple compensation claim checker.

Understanding your rights requires knowing which airline entity operated your flight. HiSky operates through two distinct legal entities: HiSky Europe SRL (a Romanian air carrier holding EU AOC RO-074, based in Bucharest) and HiSky SRL (a Moldovan air carrier holding AOC MD 025, based in Chișinău). Because HiSky Europe is an EU-licensed airline, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 covers all of its flights regardless of origin or destination. For Moldovan-registered HiSky flights, EU law applies to departures from EU airports, while Moldovan law (Government Decision No. 836/2012) applies to flights departing from or arriving in Moldova. Flights departing from the United Kingdom fall under Regulation UK261. To learn more about overall rights, read our guide on general flight delay rights or review our HiSky passenger rights overview.

Which Legal Regime Applies to Your HiSky Flight?

Determining which passenger rights framework governs your delayed HiSky flight depends on the operating airline certificate and your flight route:

• HiSky Europe SRL (Romanian Entity): As an air carrier registered in an EU Member State, HiSky Europe flight delay compensation claims fall under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 for all flights within, departing from, or arriving into the EU. Explore more details in our guide to HiSky Europe legal rights.
• HiSky SRL (Moldovan Entity): For flights operated by Moldovan-based HiSky SRL departing from an EU airport (such as Paris Beauvais or Dublin), EU261 applies. For flights departing from or arriving in Moldova (such as Chișinău to Istanbul), Republic of Moldova Government Decision No. 836/2012 guarantees equivalent statutory protections.
• UK Departures: Flights departing from United Kingdom airports (such as London Stansted) are covered by Regulation UK261, which mirrors EU compensation structures in British Pounds.

HiSky Flight Delay Compensation Tiers and Amounts

Under both EU Regulation 261/2004 and Moldovan Government Decision No. 836/2012, delay compensation is determined by the actual delay time at your final destination and the total flight distance. Arrival time is legally defined as the exact moment when at least one aircraft door opens and passengers are permitted to disembark.

To qualify for statutory financial compensation, your HiSky flight must arrive 3 hours or more late at your destination. The compensation amounts are fixed per passenger as follows:

For comprehensive details on how these rules apply across all HiSky routes, review our HiSky flight delay compensation guide.

Right to Care and Assistance During Long Delays

When your flight departure is delayed, HiSky is required to provide immediate assistance at the airport regardless of the reason for the delay. The right to care applies once departure is delayed beyond specific time limits based on flight distance:

• 2 hours or more for flights of 1,500 km or less.
• 3 hours or more for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and non-EU flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km.
• 4 hours or more for long-haul flights exceeding 3,500 km.

While waiting, you are entitled to free meals and refreshments proportionate to the waiting time, along with access to two free phone calls, faxes, or emails. If your delay requires an overnight stay, HiSky must provide complimentary hotel accommodation and return transportation between the airport and the hotel. If HiSky fails to provide vouchers or accommodation directly, keep all itemized receipts for necessary, reasonable expenses so they can be reimbursed.

5-Hour Departure Delay: Refunds and Alternative Transport

If your HiSky flight is delayed at departure by 5 hours or more, you are no longer obligated to take the flight. You have the legal right to cancel your journey and request a full refund of your ticket cost within 7 days for any unused flight segments. If the delay occurs during a multi-leg journey and the flight no longer serves its original purpose, you are also entitled to a free return flight to your original point of departure.

Extraordinary Circumstances: When Compensation Is Not Payable

HiSky is exempt from paying delay compensation if it can prove that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Extraordinary circumstances include severe weather conditions closing airspace, air traffic control restrictions, political instability, security risks, or airport closures.

However, technical faults discovered during routine maintenance, operational scheduling errors, plane shortages, and crew staffing problems are considered within the carrier's control. In these situations, HiSky remains legally obligated to pay compensation. If HiSky denies your claim citing extraordinary events without adequate proof, start a claim review with Trouble Flight to verify the actual flight logs and legal validity.

What to Do If Your HiSky Flight Is Delayed (Evidence Checklist)

To protect your rights and strengthen your compensation claim, gather and save key evidence while at the airport:

1. Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation: Retain all travel documents containing your booking reference (PNR), flight number, and passenger details.
2. Note the actual arrival time: Record the exact time the plane parked at the gate and the aircraft door opened for disembarkation.
3. Request the official delay reason: Ask airline staff at the airport gate for written confirmation or an explanation of why the flight was delayed.
4. Save expense receipts: Keep itemized receipts for any meals, beverages, transportation, or hotel costs incurred during the delay.
5. Avoid signing waiver agreements: Do not sign travel vouchers or waivers that surrender your right to legal compensation in exchange for minor perks.

Other Flight Disruption Rights

Flights are sometimes impacted by severe disruptions beyond standard delays. If your itinerary suffered from other issues, explore your specific rights:

• If your flight was called off entirely, consult our guide on HiSky cancelled flight rights or general rules for a cancelled flight.
• If you missed your connecting journey due to an initial delay, learn about missed connecting flight compensation.
• If you were prevented from boarding due to overbooking, read about denied boarding compensation and overbooked flight rights.
• If you are comparing regional airlines, check rights for a FLYONE flight delay or a TAROM flight delay.

Claim HiSky Delay Compensation Easily with Trouble Flight

Pursuing flight compensation independently often involves lengthy disputes, technical legal arguments, and airline delays. Trouble Flight simplifies the process by managing your entire claim from start to finish.

Our aviation legal specialists evaluate your flight data, establish which entity operated the flight, submit legal documentation, and handle all communications. Trouble Flight operates on a no-win, no-fee model, meaning you pay nothing unless compensation is successfully secured. Take the hassle out of your claim and submit your HiSky delay claim with Trouble Flight today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much compensation can I get for a delayed HiSky flight?

Depending on the flight distance, you can receive €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, or intra-EU flights over 1,500 km), or €600 (non-intra-EU flights over 3,500 km). For flights over 3,500 km arriving between 3 and 4 hours late, compensation may be reduced by 50% to €300.

How is the 3-hour delay measured for compensation?

The delay is measured at arrival, not departure. Arrival time is legally recognized as the moment the aircraft reaches its parking stand, at least one door opens, and passengers are granted permission to leave the aircraft.

Can I claim compensation if HiSky provided meal vouchers at the airport?

Yes. Meal vouchers and care provided at the airport fulfill HiSky's statutory right-to-care obligations and do not replace or cancel your entitlement to cash delay compensation.

What if HiSky claims the delay was due to technical problems?

Technical problems discovered during normal aircraft operation or maintenance are generally legally classified as within the airline's control. HiSky remains liable for delay compensation unless the technical failure resulted from hidden manufacturing defects or sabotage.