Missed conference due to flight delay

I am a resident of Mwanza and had booked a local airline to fly to Dar es Salaam where I was scheduled to attend an important international conference. Unfortunately, the airline delayed the flight for several hours without prior notice, and by the time I arrived in Dar es Salaam, the conference had already started and I missed my presentation slot. Do I have any rights against the airline for this inconvenience?

KD, Mwanza

We are sorry to hear about the inconvenience you experienced. Under Tanzanian law, your rights as a passenger are protected by the Civil Aviation (Carriage by Air) Regulations, 2024 (G.N. No. 4 of 2024). Regulation 24 specifically provides remedies in cases of cancellation, delay, or denied boarding. Where a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed without prior notice, the airline is required to offer passengers reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket within 7 days for the part of the journey not made, or for the part already made if the flight no longer serves its original purpose.

In your situation, the delay prevented you from reaching Dar es Salaam in time for your international conference. This means the flight no longer served its intended purpose, and you may be entitled to reimbursement under the Regulations. The first step is to review the terms and conditions of your ticket, which may contain additional provisions. Thereafter you may contact the airline and if the airline fails to comply, you may escalate the matter to the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), the regulator responsible for ensuring that airlines uphold passenger rights. Consult your lawyer for further guidance.