EU261 compensation

Who EU261 covers

• Every flight departing an airport in an EU member state, whatever the airline (Article 3(1)(a)).
• Flights from outside the EU into the EU when the operating airline is an EU ("Community") carrier, unless benefits, compensation and assistance were already received under that country's law (Article 3(1)(b)).

Of the 53 routes on this site, 34 can fall under EU261: 34 whatever the airline in at least one direction. Flights to and from the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores and the French overseas departments count as EU flights (Article 355(1) TFEU).

EU261 amounts by distance

Distance is the great circle between the departure airport and the final destination on the booking — so a connection that makes you 3 hours late at the end of the trip is measured over the whole journey, not the leg that went wrong. Inside the EU there is no long-haul band: every flight between two EU airports over 1,500 km pays €400, even when it is longer than 3,500 km, as Helsinki to Tenerife is. The reduced long-haul figure for arriving 3 to 4 hours late is the one the European Commission's Your Europe page publishes.

Worked examples

Each example uses a route from this site, its computed distance and the EU261 table above.

London to Dublin is 449 km, so 5 hours late on a 449 km flight (1,500 km or less): €250 per passenger. Manchester to Málaga is 1,862 km, so 5 hours late on a 1,862 km flight (1,500 to 3,500 km): €400 per passenger. Paris to New York is 5,834 km, so 5 hours late on a 5,834 km flight (over 3,500 km): €600 per passenger. Berlin to Palma de Mallorca is 1,646 km, so 5 hours late on a 1,646 km flight (within the EU, over 1,500 km): €400 per passenger.

Cancellations and bumping

A cancellation pays the same band amounts unless the airline told you at least 14 days before departure, or between 7 and 13 days before with a replacement leaving no more than 2 hours early and arriving less than 4 hours late, or less than 7 days before with a replacement leaving no more than 1 hour early and arriving less than 2 hours late. If you are re-routed and land within the window in the table — 2, 3 or 4 hours by band — the airline may halve the payment. Being denied boarding against your will pays the full band amount straight away, with the same halving rule. On a cancellation you can also choose a refund of the ticket within 7 days instead of a replacement flight, and a delay of 5 hours or more gives the same choice.

Extraordinary circumstances and other exceptions

EU261 pays nothing if the airline "can prove" the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken (Article 5(3)). The Court of Justice held in Sturgeon that a technical problem is not extraordinary unless it stems from events not inherent in the airline's normal activity. Weather that closes an airport, air traffic control restrictions and security alerts usually are. The burden is on the airline, so a refusal should say what happened. Care is owed whatever the cause.

How to claim EU261 for free

Give the airline the booking reference, the flight number and date, the scheduled and actual arrival times and the names of everyone on the booking. Ask for compensation under Article 7 and, separately, reimbursement of any meals or hotel you paid for under Article 9. Keep receipts. A claim company can do the same, for a share of the payout; their published fees are in the comparison guide.

What the text says

"EUR 250 for all flights of 1500 kilometres or less; EUR 400 for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres, and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres; EUR 600 for all flights not falling under (a) or (b)."

"The distances given in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be measured by the great circle route method."

"An operating air carrier shall not be obliged to pay compensation in accordance with Article 7, if it can prove that the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken."

"they reach their final destination three hours or more after the arrival time originally scheduled"

Routes under EU261

LHR–DUB · LHR–CDG · LHR–FRA · LHR–AMS · LGW–BCN · MAN–AGP · MAN–TFS · EDI–AMS · LGW–FAO · LHR–ATH · LHR–HEL · CDG–NCE · MAD–BCN · FRA–MUC · AMS–BCN · BER–PMI · FCO–ATH · HEL–TFS · LIS–HEL · DUB–FAO · MAD–TFS · CDG–ATH · CDG–JFK · FRA–JFK · AMS–JFK · MAD–MIA · FCO–JFK · DUB–BOS · LIS–EWR · CDG–YUL · MUC–YYZ · AMS–DXB · CDG–CUN · AMS–SFO

By distance band: Up to 1,500 km (11), 1,500 to 3,500 km (5), Over 3,500 km (12), Within the EU, over 1,500 km (6).

Sources: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EUR-Lex); CJEU, Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07 Sturgeon (19 Nov 2009); Your Europe: Air passenger rights (European Union); CJEU, Case C-139/11 Moré v KLM (22 Nov 2012); Article 355(1) TFEU (EUR-Lex). Checked 2026-10-20. General information, not legal advice.