Flight compensation refused in Malta: the MCCAA
Updated
General information, not legal advice. The outcome depends on the facts of your case.
Your flight from Malta was delayed or cancelled, and the airline said no to your compensation claim. In Malta, the body to complain to is the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA), the national enforcement body for air passenger rights (ECC Malta).
Which flights the MCCAA covers
Under EU261, the body in the country of departure handles the complaint. So the MCCAA takes:
- Flights departing Malta, whatever the airline.
- Flights into Malta from outside the EU, when an EU airline operated them.
A flight from Stockholm or Helsinki to Malta goes to the board in the country of departure. See the Nordic complaint boards.
The airlines
- KM Malta Airlines is the successor to Air Malta.
- Malta Air is Ryanair's Maltese airline. A Ryanair booking may be operated by Malta Air. The airline that operated the flight pays, so check your booking or boarding pass. See Ryanair rejected your compensation.
Before you complain
Send a written claim to the airline and give it a reasonable time to answer. If it refused, you can go to the MCCAA.
How to complain to the MCCAA
- Email: airpassengerrights.mccaa@mccaa.org.mt
- Online: the consumer complaint form on mccaa.org.mt.
- Post: Director of Complaints and Conciliation, MCCAA, National Road, Blata l-Bajda HMR 9010, Malta.
- Language: English, one of Malta's official languages.
- Cost: the MCCAA lists no fee.
- Attach: booking confirmation or ticket, your claim and the airline's answer, anything that shows the delay or cancellation, receipts for any costs, and your contact details and the airline's.
What the MCCAA can and cannot do
Can: assign your complaint to a complaint handler, who tries to reach an agreement with the airline (conciliation).
Cannot: make a binding decision. If conciliation fails, you take the claim further yourself.
The tribunals
- Consumer Claims Tribunal: claims up to €10,000, once MCCAA conciliation has failed; you must show that it was referred and not settled. You do not need a lawyer. The fee is €9.50 up to €580, €14 up to €1,165 and €21 up to €2,330 (MCCAA). The tribunal hears disputes about the "hire or purchase of goods or services". Whether fixed EU261 compensation fits is not confirmed.
- Small Claims Tribunal: money claims up to €5,000. You do not need a lawyer, but you must attend the hearings (e-Justice).
Live in another EU country? You can also use the European Small Claims Procedure (up to €5,000), forms at e-justice.europa.eu.
How long you have
Malta's time limit for these claims is not clear. To be safe, act within 2 years of the flight. The MCCAA step takes time, so start early.
If the airline still says no
Appeal My Flight writes your reply to the airline and the complaint to the MCCAA for €29 per booking, however many passengers. You send it yourself and keep the whole payout. Claim companies typically take 25 to 35 % instead. We cannot promise an outcome. Not sure your case is strong? Try the rejection checker.
FAQ
Is the MCCAA decision binding?
No. The MCCAA tries to reach an agreement. If that fails, the tribunals decide.
My flight was from Malta to Copenhagen. Which body?
The MCCAA, because the flight departed Malta.
Can I complain in English?
Yes. English is an official language in Malta.
Got the airline's reply? Paste it into the rejection checker and see what EU court rulings say about their excuse.