EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261) and its UK equivalent (UK261) are among the strongest passenger rights laws in the world. They require airlines to pay fixed cash compensation when they cause significant disruptions — not just vouchers or miles.
The regulation applies when you depart from an EU or UK airport with any airline, or when you fly into the EU or UK with an EU/UK-registered carrier. It does not apply to flights that both depart and arrive outside the EU/UK on a non-EU/UK airline.
Airlines are exempt from paying compensation only when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances they could not have avoided — defined as severe weather, airport/ATC strikes, political instability, or security events. Technical faults, staffing shortages, aircraft rotations, and airline staff strikes do not qualify as extraordinary.
Even when the airline owes no cash compensation, you are always entitled to duty of care: meals and refreshments during the wait, and hotel accommodation plus transport if delayed overnight.
| Distance | Route type | Standard compensation | Reduced (3–4h long-haul) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-haul | < 1,500 km | €250 | — |
| Medium-haul | 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | — |
| Long-haul | > 3,500 km | €600 | €300 |