Could you give me a bit more info please.
Delays and cancellations are treated differently under EU regulations, and under the airlines CoC.
was your flight delayed 24 hours, or was it cancelled with you being rebooked on the next days flight?
If it's the latter you need to have a look at the airlines CoC for a cancellation. Also google for Regulation 261/2004 to see the rules for ALL airlines departing from a EU airport - focusing on the provisions for cancellation.
I would not expect any court to compensate you for anything other than reasonable expenses. Perhaps if you had paid 20k for a first class ticket, but ...
Also ask the airline to explain the actual reason for the delay/cancellation.Your speculation that it was for commercial reasons may be correct, but it could have been for other reasons, perhaps covered by their force majure provisions.