If your flight from a UK airport is cancelled or significantly delayed, you may be entitled to fixed cash compensation on top of a refund or rerouting. The rules are governed by UK261, which mirrors the old EU261 almost identically post-Brexit and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority. Here is exactly what you are owed in 2026, and when the airline can legitimately refuse.
What is UK261?
"UK261" is the colloquial name. The formal regulation is Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law via the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. It applies to any flight departing a UK airport, and to any flight on a UK-licensed airline arriving at a UK airport from anywhere else.
The regulation has been unchanged in substance since 2004. Brexit made no material difference; it was retained directly. Compensation amounts and rights are identical to the old EU261.
Compensation amounts in 2026
If the airline cancels your flight or you arrive at your destination 3 hours or more late, fixed compensation applies on top of any refund or rerouting:
| Flight distance | Compensation per person |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. UK to Western Europe) | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km (e.g. UK to Eastern Europe / North Africa) | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km, arriving 3 to 4 hours late | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km, arriving 4 hours or more late | £520 |
Compensation is fixed: it does not depend on what you paid for the ticket. A £30 Wizz Air flight delayed 4 hours from London to Tel Aviv pays the same compensation as a £600 fare.
When you are entitled
You are owed UK261 compensation when:
- The flight is cancelled with less than 14 days notice (and they cannot rebook you on a flight arriving close to the original time), OR
- You arrive at your destination 3 hours or more late, AND
- The cause is within the airline's control (mechanical, crewing, scheduling).
When the airline can refuse
The big exception is "extraordinary circumstances": events outside the airline's reasonable control. The airline does not pay if the cause is:
- Severe weather (storms, fog, snow grounding flights at scale).
- Air traffic control strikes or industrial action by airport staff (note: their own staff striking is NOT extraordinary).
- Bird strikes and other unavoidable airport-side issues.
- Security alerts, geopolitical events.
The crucial test is what a reasonably prepared airline could have foreseen and avoided. Mechanical failure on the day is usually NOT extraordinary; the airline is still on the hook because it should have a fault-tolerant operating standard. Crew sickness above normal rates is also typically rejected as "extraordinary."
What else you are entitled to (regardless of compensation)
Even when extraordinary circumstances apply, you keep the right to:
- Refund or rerouting: a full refund within 7 days OR rebooking on the next available flight to your destination, of the airline's choice.
- Duty of care: meals, drinks, communication and (for overnight delays) accommodation and transport, paid for by the airline. If they fail to provide this, keep receipts and claim afterwards.
- If you are downgraded: a percentage refund of the affected leg (30 to 75 percent depending on distance).
How to actually claim
- Submit the claim directly to the airline first. Most airlines now have an online claim form that takes 5 to 10 minutes.
- Cite UK261 explicitly. Include your booking reference, flight number, date, and departure airport.
- Wait 8 weeks for a response. Airlines have to respond meaningfully within this window.
- If they refuse or ignore you, escalate to ADR or the CAA. Most UK airlines are signed up to an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme (CEDR or AviationADR). Use it; it is free for the passenger and binding on the airline.
- Last resort: small claims court. UK261 compensation is well within the small claims limit and the court process is straightforward.
You do not need to use a claims-management company. They take 25 to 35 percent of the compensation. The process is genuinely simple and free.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim?
UK261 claims can be made up to 6 years after the disrupted flight in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 5 years in Scotland.
What if my flight was disrupted by an EU air traffic control strike?
If a non-airline party causes the disruption (ATC, security, weather), the airline can usually claim "extraordinary circumstances" and refuse compensation. They still owe you a refund or rerouting, plus duty of care if you are stranded.
Can I claim for cancelled connecting flights?
If you booked the connection on a single ticket and the disruption causes you to arrive at your final destination 3 hours late, yes. If the connections are on separate tickets and the disruption only affects one leg, only that leg may be eligible.
Does it matter which UK airport I flew from?
Not for the regulation, but the airline's response time may vary by their UK operations centre. Major airports (Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol) have fuller airline staffing and faster onsite resolution.
Where to verify
The most authoritative source is the Civil Aviation Authority's passenger guidance at caa.co.uk. The retained regulation text is on legislation.gov.uk.
Compare parking at airports we cover
Compensation amounts and regulation status verified May 2026 against caa.co.uk. UK261 has been substantively unchanged since 2004; the figures above are the current statutory amounts.