I have a (hopefully) quick question on a compensation claim I made to BA for a cancelled flight LCY-EDI. The flight was due to leave at 08.05 on a Saturday, but at 21.30 on the Friday the flight was cancelled quoting "because your aircraft must go through extra safety checks."

When I submitted the claim it was rejected it as the "cancellation was due to a bird strike on the preceding flight".

I know that a bird strike is classed as an "extraordinary circumstance" and the airline is not liable to pay compensation, but could it not be argued that they had sufficient time to provide an alternative aircraft, and therefore my cancellation was due to an operational failure?

I know the amounts are relatively minor, but I am genuinely interested in how long an airline can rely on a prior "non-payable" event for future cancellations downstream in their flight timetables