Cancelled or delayed flight: compensation and penalties owed by the airline
Last updated: October 2026 · Content checked by the VolClaim editorial team (method)
In short: for a flight that is cancelled or arrives 3 hours or more late, the airline must pay compensation of €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on the distance, in addition to a refund or re-routing and care (meals, accommodation), unless an extraordinary circumstance is proven. Source: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
What compensation depending on distance?
| Flight distance | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | 250 € |
| Between 1,500 and 3,500 km | 400 € |
| More than 3,500 km | 600 € |
Flight cancellation: your rights
You are always entitled to a refund of the ticket or re-routing (Article 8). You are also entitled to compensation if the cancellation is notified less than 14 days before departure without satisfactory re-routing, unless an extraordinary circumstance applies (Article 5). Details: cancelled flight.
Flight delay: your rights
From 3 hours' delay on arrival, compensation is owed on the same scale (Sturgeon judgment, CJEU 2009). Details: delayed flight.
The airline's obligations in addition to compensation
The airline must provide meals and refreshments, accommodation if necessary and transport to the accommodation, depending on the waiting time (Article 9). These rights apply even in the event of an extraordinary circumstance.
When the airline can refuse to pay
It can be exempted by proving an extraordinary circumstance that could not have been avoided despite all reasonable measures: extreme weather, air traffic control strike, security risk. An ordinary technical fault or a staff shortage is in principle not enough.
How to make a claim
1. Gather your ticket, boarding pass and proof of the delay or cancellation. 2. Write to the airline through its official claims channel. 3. If it refuses or does not reply within two months, refer the matter free of charge to a consumer mediator (mandatory in France before any court action since 7 February 2026). The limitation period is generally 5 years in France.
VolClaim can handle the whole process for you: free check, claim letter, sending, follow-ups. 25% commission incl. VAT, only if successful. If court action becomes necessary, our total fee is capped at 50% incl. VAT. It covers all procedural costs (court fees, lawyer, judicial officer), which we advance and bear. If the proceedings fail, you pay nothing. Procedural costs awarded against the airline (legal costs, Article 700 of the French Code of Civil Procedure) are retained by us. Estimate my compensation.
Frequently asked questions
What compensation for a cancelled flight? €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on the distance, if notification took place less than 14 days before departure, with no extraordinary circumstance.
Does a flight delay give a right to compensation? Yes, from 3 hours' delay on arrival.
What penalties in addition to compensation? Refund or re-routing, meals, accommodation and transport while you wait.
What is the time limit for claiming? It varies between EU countries; generally 5 years in France.