Overview

• The number of lawsuits filed against airlines in Germany reached 131,000 in 2024, marking a record high and a 6,000-case increase from the previous year.
• Courts at major airport locations, including Cologne, Frankfurt, and Berlin, are heavily burdened, with Cologne alone handling over 41,000 cases.
• Passengers are primarily seeking compensation under EU regulations, which mandate payments of €250-€600 for delays exceeding three hours or canceled flights under certain conditions.
• Legal-tech portals, such as AirHelp and Flightright, are facilitating claims but are also contributing to the surge in court cases due to their widespread use.
• Efforts to manage the caseload include the deployment of AI tools in some courts to streamline case processing, though comprehensive solutions remain under development.