Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation: EU261 Basics

What is EU261?

EU261 is the European Union regulation on air passenger rights. It sets out the compensation and care passengers are entitled to when a flight is significantly delayed, cancelled, or overbooked. After Brexit, the UK kept an almost identical version, usually called UK261.

Scope is what trips people up. It covers any flight departing from an EU airport, whatever the airline, and flights arriving in the EU from outside only if operated by an EU carrier. So a flight from Paris to Incheon can be covered on any airline, while Incheon to Paris is covered only on an EU airline. EU rules also apply to flights to and from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Compensation amounts and conditions

If you reach your final destination three or more hours late, or your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, you may be owed fixed compensation based on flight distance. What counts is the delay on arrival, not on departure.

If the airline reroutes you after a cancellation and you arrive only a little later than planned, compensation may be reduced or not due. On flights over 3,500 km, compensation can be halved if the delay on arrival is between three and four hours.

In 2026 the EU gave final approval to a revision of the passenger rights rules. The compensation structure stays broadly similar, but information and claims procedures may change once it applies, so check the latest rules on the official Your Europe site before claiming.

• Up to 1,500 km: 250 EUR
• Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or others 1,500-3,500 km: 400 EUR
• Over 3,500 km (most long-haul flights): 600 EUR
• UK261 equivalents: 220 / 350 / 520 GBP (UK Civil Aviation Authority)
• Amounts depend on distance, not on what you paid for the ticket

Extraordinary circumstances

Airlines don't owe cash compensation when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that couldn't have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. Typical examples are severe weather, political instability, security risks, air traffic control restrictions, airport staff strikes and bird strikes.

Routine technical faults, crew shortages and strikes by the airline's own staff are often not accepted as extraordinary. Airlines sometimes cite weather when the real cause was different, so ask for the reason in writing.

Crucially, even in extraordinary circumstances the airline must still provide care such as meals and accommodation.

What to ask for at the airport

During long delays, the airline must provide meals and refreshments, a means of communication, and a hotel plus transport to it if you're stuck overnight. If the delay reaches five hours and you decide not to travel, you can ask for a refund.

If your flight is cancelled, you can choose between a refund, rerouting at the earliest opportunity, or rerouting at a later date of your choice. Staff may offer only one option, but you're entitled to choose.

• Ask for the reason for the delay or cancellation in writing or by email
• Request meal vouchers and, if needed, a hotel
• Ask about rerouting options, including on other airlines
• Keep receipts if you pay for reasonable meals or a hotel yourself
• Read anything before signing, especially if it waives your right to compensation

Documents to keep

Most claims are filed online, but weak evidence slows everything down. Take photos at the airport if you can't keep originals.

• Boarding passes and booking confirmation with the reference
• Photos of departure boards showing the delay and time
• Airline texts and emails, and any written explanation of the cause
• Receipts for meals, hotels and transport
• A note of your actual arrival time, which is usually when the aircraft door opens

How claims work

Start by claiming directly with the operating airline through its official compensation form. Even if you booked through a travel agent, the claim goes to the airline that actually flew the route. If the airline refuses or doesn't respond, you can escalate to the national enforcement body in the relevant country or to an approved dispute resolution scheme.

If you'd rather not handle it yourself, claim services can pursue it for you, typically for a success-based fee that can be significant, so compare terms. Time limits are not set EU-wide but depend on national law, so check the official guidance for the relevant country and claim promptly.

Other regions have different rules

Fixed cash compensation like EU261 is not universal. Korea has compensation standards for international delays and cancellations in the Fair Trade Commission's Consumer Dispute Resolution Standards (force majeure such as weather is excluded), the United States (DOT) focuses mainly on refunds for cancellations and significant changes, and Canada has its own passenger protection rules. Some places rely only on the airline's own conditions of carriage.

The amounts and conditions in this guide are a general overview. Before making a claim, check official government sources and the airline's conditions for your specific flight.

FAQ

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