In brief
| Your situation | Main right |
|---|---|
| Brussels-Bujumbura flight on Brussels Airlines, delay ≥ 3h | €600, both directions, unless extraordinary circumstances |
| Return Bujumbura → Brussels on Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, RwandAir | Not covered by EC 261 (non-EU carriers) |
| Outbound to Bujumbura on these same non-EU carriers (single ticket) | €600, covered since it departs the EU |
| Cancellation notified less than 14 days before | Compensation possible + refund or rerouting |
Distances and compensation
| Route | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Brussels → Bujumbura (direct Brussels Airlines) | €600 |
| Bujumbura → Brussels (Brussels Airlines return) | €600 |
| Bujumbura (Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, RwandAir - via connection) | €600 (EU departure only) |
Delay AND cancellation: two situations covered
Yes, you may be entitled to up to €600 if your flight arrives with at least 3h of delay, subject to the other conditions. Delay: a delay of at least 3h on arrival may entitle you to compensation of up to €600, subject to eligibility conditions and the absence of extraordinary circumstances (a routine technical fault and crew management issues are generally attributable to the airline; extreme weather or an air traffic controllers' strike may exempt it).
Cancellation: a cancellation entitles you to a refund or rerouting, and potentially to €600 compensation if the airline did not notify you within the required deadline, unless a genuine extraordinary circumstance applies.
Overbooking: if you are denied boarding against your will for lack of space, compensation is automatic.
Strike: a strike by the airline's own staff is generally not an extraordinary circumstance (Krüsemann ruling, CJEU); a strike by an outside third party may exempt it, if the airline proves it took all reasonable measures.
EU carriers - covered both ways ✔
- EUBrussels Airlines - direct Brussels-Bujumbura flights, EC 261 both directions
Non-EU carriers - EU departure only ✔ / return ✘
- Non-EUEthiopian Airlines - via Addis Ababa, EC 261 only departing Europe
- Non-EUKenya Airways - via Nairobi, EC 261 only departing Europe
- Non-EURwandAir - via Kigali, EC 261 only departing Europe
Frequent flights & eligibility
| Flight | Airline | EC 261 eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels → Bujumbura (direct) | Brussels Airlines EU | ✔ both directions |
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation for a delayed flight to Bujumbura?
The distance is well above the 3,500 km threshold, which places this route at the maximum tier. A delay of at least 3h on arrival may entitle you to compensation of up to €600 per passenger, subject to eligibility conditions.
Does Brussels Airlines fly Brussels-Bujumbura?
Yes, direct. It's historically one of Brussels Airlines' oldest routes to the Great Lakes region. EC 261 coverage in both directions.
Can I claim if my Ethiopian or RwandAir Bujumbura-Brussels flight arrives late?
No. These airlines are non-European. The return to Brussels on these airlines does not entitle you to EC 261.
My flight to Bujumbura was cancelled, am I entitled to compensation?
Possibly, unless a genuine extraordinary circumstance applies. A cancellation may entitle you to €600 per passenger on this distance, in addition to a refund or rerouting, depending on the notice given by the airline.
Sources and references
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004: Article 7 (compensation), Article 8 (refund/rerouting)
CJEU, Krüsemann ruling (C-195/17): internal strike, assessed on the specific facts
Article 2224 of the French Civil Code: 5-year limitation period before French courts
Flight to Bujumbura delayed or cancelled? €600 may be waiting for you.
File my claim