In brief
| Your situation | Main right |
|---|---|
| Paris-Niamey flight on Air France, delay ≥ 3h | €600, both directions, unless extraordinary circumstances |
| Niamey → Paris return on Turkish or Royal Air Maroc | Not covered by EC 261 (non-EU carriers) |
| Paris → Niamey outbound on these same carriers (single ticket) | €600, covered since departing the EU |
| Cancellation notified less than 14 days before | Compensation possible + refund or rerouting |
Distances and compensation
| Route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Niamey (Air France) | 4,300 km | €600 |
| Niamey → Paris (Air France return) | 4,300 km | €600 |
| Paris → Niamey (Turkish, Royal Air Maroc - via connection) | > 4,300 km | €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 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 either to a refund or to rerouting, AND to €600 compensation if the airline did not notify you at least 14 days in advance (or within shorter deadlines under conditions), unless a genuine extraordinary circumstance applies (not just "weather" invoked generally).
Overbooking: if you are denied boarding against your will for lack of space, compensation is automatic - the easiest case to assert.
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 (air traffic controllers) may exempt it, if the airline proves it took all reasonable measures.
EU carriers - covered both ways ✔
- EUAir France - flies Paris-Niamey, EC 261 both directions
Non-EU carriers - EU departure only ✔ / return ✘
- Non-EUTurkish Airlines (TK) - via Istanbul, EC 261 only departing Paris
- Non-EURoyal Air Maroc (AT) - via Casablanca, EC 261 only departing Paris
Frequent flights & eligibility
| Flight | Airline | EC 261 eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Niamey | Air France EU | ✔ both directions |
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation for a delayed Paris-Niamey flight?
Paris → Niamey = 4,300 km → €600 tier. A delay of at least 3h on arrival may entitle you to compensation of up to €600 per passenger, subject to eligibility conditions.
My Paris-Niamey flight 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.
Does Air France fly Paris-Niamey?
Yes, Air France flies this route. EC 261 coverage both directions - outbound and return.
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
Paris-Niamey flight delayed or cancelled? €600 may be waiting for you.
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