Dubrovnik DBV to Zagreb ZAG delay compensation

Which rules cover DBV–ZAG

Dubrovnik → Zagreb

Whatever the airline, this direction is covered by EU261 (the flight departs from the EU (Article 3(1)(a)), whatever the airline). On a UK airline it is also under UK261. If the airline refuses, the complaint goes to Croatian Civil Aviation Agency for EU261 (the flight leaves Croatia) or the airline's dispute scheme or the UK CAA for UK261.

Zagreb → Dubrovnik

Whatever the airline, this direction is covered by EU261 (the flight departs from the EU (Article 3(1)(a)), whatever the airline). On a UK airline it is also under UK261. If the airline refuses, the complaint goes to Croatian Civil Aviation Agency for EU261 (the flight leaves Croatia) or the airline's dispute scheme or the UK CAA for UK261.

Because both EU and UK rules can reach this route, a passenger may find two rules covering the same trip. Each excludes people already compensated under the other's law for the same event, so the claim is made once, under whichever the airline accepts — in money terms €250 or £220.

What you could be owed by hours late

Arrival delay at ZAG (or DBV on the return), for a delay caused by the airline, per passenger, where each rule applies:

At 395 km the amount is the same from 3 hours late onwards — there is no extra for longer delays under the EU and UK rules.

The distance and the band

EU261 and UK261 measure distance "by the great circle route method" between the departure airport and the final destination. From the published coordinates of Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport (42.562247, 18.265543) and Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International Airport (45.742901, 16.0688) that is 395 km. The nearest band boundary is 1,500 km, 1,105 km beyond this route, so the band is not in doubt. Among the 84 routes on this site in the up to 1,500 km band, it is number 67 by length.

Other routes from Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport (LDDU) on this site: Newark (7,265 km), London (1,690 km).

Other routes from Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International Airport (LDZA) on this site: Split (246 km).

If DBV–ZAG is only one leg of your booking, measure to the final destination instead: a connection that makes you late at the end is compensated over the whole journey's distance.

If the flight is cancelled

Cancelled with less than 14 days' notice and re-routed to arrive 6 hours late, an EU261 passenger is owed €250 here. If the replacement left within the allowed early margin and landed within the re-routing window, nothing is owed; if it landed within 2 hours but outside those windows, the airline may pay half — €125. On a cancellation you may instead take a refund within 7 days.

Help at the airport while you wait

On a flight of this length, meals and refreshments are owed once the departure is 2 hours late under EU261 and UK261, and a hotel with transport if you have to stay overnight — whatever caused the delay. Keep receipts for anything you buy: it is claimed back separately from any compensation.

Claiming on this route

Airport coordinates: OurAirports country file (HR). Complaint bodies: European Commission NEB list. Rules: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EUR-Lex); UK Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk). Checked 2026-10-21. General information, not legal advice.