Request for a preliminary ruling from the Amtsgericht Hamburg (Germany) lodged on 4 November 2016 — Birgit Bossen and Others v Brussels Airlines

(Case C-559/16)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Amtsgericht Hamburg

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicants: Birgit Bossen, Anja Bossen, Gudula Gräßmann

Defendant: Brussels Airlines

Question referred

Is the second sentence of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 ¹ to be interpreted as meaning that the concept of ‘distance’ relates only to the direct distance calculated between the point of departure and the last destination on the basis of the ‘great circle’ method, regardless of the distance actually flown?

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¹ Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 295/91(OJ 2004 L 46, p. 1).