EU261 compensation for missed connection on Cathay

[thelawnet]

I had a flight LHR-HKG-CGK on CX. Return leg of a CGK-HKG-LHR ticket.

Scheduled arrival was 07:40 into HKG, actual was 08:55, due to air traffic control issues.
Onward flight was also CX, departing at 09:20

There were passengers connecting to other CX flights which CX chose to delay to allow them to meet their connection, however they did not delay my connecting flight to CGK and indeed had already decided to reroute me via HKG-BKK-CGK, scheduled to arrive 4 hr 35 minutes later than originally scheduled into CGK. The departure time of HKG-BKK was 10:25.

An email was sent to me during the flight rerouting me onto HKG-BKK-CGK, but they decided to cancel this in favour of the following HKG-CGK direct flight, arriving 10 hours late.

Therefore:

* the flight was delayed by 1 hour 15 minutes into HKG possibly due to ‘extraordinary circumstances’, I think a strike of ATC in France?
* this 1 hour 15 minute delay does not qualify for compensation
* however as a result of that delay I missed my connecting flight
* they did not get me to my destination as quickly as possible, either by delaying their connecting flight (which would have made me ineligible for compensation obviously, as it could have even arrived on time), or by routing me on the flight HKG-BKK-CGK (using another airline)

They have rejected my compensation request, not sure if this is correct?

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

If there was an ATC strike or restrictions that caused the initial delay then no UK/EU261 compensation is due.