Request for a preliminary ruling from the Amtsgericht Hamburg (Germany) lodged on 18 May 2017 — Andreas Niemeyer v Brussels Airlines SA/NV

(Case C-269/17)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Amtsgericht Hamburg

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Andreas Niemeyer

Defendant: Brussels Airlines SA/NV

Question referred

Is the second sentence of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 ¹ (‘the Regulation’) 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.