Weather-related flight delays and compensation-related assessment : a case study of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Abstract

This thesis examines the connection between weather conditions and flight delays at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and how weather observations could help with compensation-related assessment under EU261. Three weather-related variables are included in the study, namely temperature, wind conditions, and visibility, due to their operational relevance identified in previous research. METAR data provided weather observations, flight delay records were analyzed, and qualitative interview material was collected from aviation professionals to examine operational disruption under different weather conditions. An exploratory analysis was performed to study the association of selected weather conditions with flight delay and disruption patterns at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The results indicate that lower temperatures, higher wind, and lower visibility were related to more operational disruption and delay occurrences. The severity of the disruption was greater because several adverse weather conditions occurred simultaneously. The interview findings further show that weather-related disruption management is not only dependent on weather observations but also on operational coordination, contextual judgment, and documented operational responses. Findings suggest that weather-related observations may provide useful contextual information for understanding disruption circumstances and support compensation-related assessment under EU261 when interpreted in conjunction with operational context.