A German court has dismissed a passenger’s claim for compensation after he missed a flight due to a lengthy security check at the airport. The incident occurred on May 13, 2023, at the Hahn Airport, where the plaintiff and his wife had booked a flight to Thessaloniki, scheduled to depart at 5:45 am. They arrived at the airport around 4:00 am and after checking in their luggage, proceeded to the security control, which took an unusually long time, causing the plane to depart without them.
In court, the couple argued that the check-in process was slow and inefficient and the security control was understaffed, leading to a delay that affected not only them but also other passengers, who missed their boarding as well. They claimed that even if they had arrived earlier, it would not have made a difference, as the security gates were allegedly not opened on time.
The defendant, the airport, disputed the account, stating that passengers should arrive at the airport 2-3 hours prior to the scheduled departure, as recommended by the airport. It denied any delays in the check-in process and the security control and rejected the claim that the security gates were not opened on time.
The court ruled that the passenger’s timely arrival at the airport was also a factor to be considered, in line with the airport’s recommendations and the airline’s guidelines. The plaintiff, who arrived only 1 hour and 45 minutes before the scheduled departure, failed to meet the recommended time frame. The court also found that the plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim that the security control was not opened on time and thus, he bore the burden of proof. The court’s decision, handed down on March 25, 2025, in case number 1 O 114/24, was in favor of the airport.