Can the "COVID-19 card" be pulled for a last-minute service reduction (EC261)?
Was due to fly PRN-DUS-MAN on 3 July, but the PRN-DUS flight was cancelled 3 days before, while it still ran on 1 and 4 July. In other words, the service was only reduced.
As I was re-routed and reached MAN 8 h 15 min past the original schedule, I've requested EC261 compensation.
I know airlines will just hold their ears and go "CORONA, CORONA, CORONA!!!", and even users on Flyertalk have done this, but I know it's not that simple. The specific cancellation must be beyond the control of the airline, and from what I can gather, a reduction of an up-and-running service, no matter how reasonable due to insufficient demand, is hardly beyond the carrier's control.
So on what grounds could the airline claim this specific cancellation to be beyond their control?
UPDATE: turned out there were no valid grounds for refusing compensation, and with the intervention of the Kosovan civil aviation department, I've now received due compensation (EUR 412 in total)
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