Airlines Owe Passengers $413 Million in 2017

More than 584,000 Americans have been affected by flight delays and cancellations in 2017, a figure that could potentially prove costly for airlines.

According to air passenger rights organization, AirHelp, the hundreds of thousands of U.S. passengers impacted by cancellations and delays lasting three hours or more are entitled to claim more than $413 million in compensation.

While those figures could rise through the conclusion of the holiday travel season as snow and freezing temperatures grip parts of the Midwest, Northeast and New England, only a tiny fraction of the passengers are likely to pursue restitution.

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"In the event of a delayed or canceled flight, passengers may be legally entitled to receive up to $700 in compensation fees from airlines," AirHelp CEO, Henrik Zillmer said in a statement. "However, despite this, less than 2 percent of travelers will file for this compensation."

The leading flight delay compensation company also uncovered some of the world's worst airports for travel disruptions, singling out Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport as the most troublesome when it comes to the highest percentage of disrupted international flights departing from airports in the U.S.

London City Airport is a close second for flight headaches.

In the U.S., AirHelp lists Newark Liberty International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport among the world's worst for quality, service and the number of flight delays over the course of the year.

"2017 has been an interesting year for air passenger travel, particularly in the U.S. with overbooked flights and cancellations making national headlines month after month," said Zillmer.

"The consistent mistreatment of U.S. consumers paired with the recent decision by the Department of Transportation to scrap a proposal mandating airlines to be transparent about their fees means it is more important than ever for consumers to fight for their air passenger rights."

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Travelers can download the AirHelp mobile app for free to check their eligibility for compensation.

"We urge passengers who may have been affected by delays or cancellations this year to read up on their rights to ensure that they're not missing out on the compensation that they're legally entitled to," said Zillmer.

Airlines, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, have recently increased compensation for passengers on overbooked flights who voluntarily agree to be rebooked.

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