Air Passenger Rights — European Union
EU261 is the strongest air passenger protection regime in the world, and the amounts are fixed in euros regardless of what you paid for the ticket. A €90 flight delayed four hours can owe you €400 — considerably more than the fare.
Who it covers
Applies to any flight departing from an EU airport on any airline, and to flights arriving in the EU when operated by an EU carrier. A Toronto to Paris flight on Air France is covered in both directions; the same route on Air Canada is covered only on the Paris departure.
Delay compensation
| Situation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flights up to 1,500 km, arrival delay 3 hours or more | €250 |
| Intra-EU flights over 1,500 km, and other flights 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Flights over 3,500 km outside the EU, arrival delay 4 hours or more | €600 |
| Long-haul delay of 3 to 4 hours | €300 — reduced by 50% |
Cancellations
- No compensation is owed if the airline informed you at least 14 days before departure, or if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances — weather, strikes by third parties, political instability.
- A technical fault with the aircraft is NOT an extraordinary circumstance. The European Court of Justice has ruled repeatedly that routine maintenance problems remain the airline's responsibility.
- You always have the choice between a refund within 7 days and re-routing at the earliest opportunity, regardless of the cause.
- Right to care — meals, refreshments, two communications and hotel accommodation with transfers where an overnight stay is needed — applies even when no compensation is owed.
Denied boarding
- Denied boarding against your will attracts the same €250, €400 or €600 amounts, plus the choice of a refund or re-routing.
- The airline must call for volunteers first, and any deal a volunteer accepts is negotiated, not fixed by the regulation.
Baggage
- Baggage liability falls under the Montreal Convention, capped at approximately €1,600 per passenger for loss, damage or delay.
- Report damage within 7 days and delay within 21 days of the bag being returned to you.
How to claim
- 1Claim directly with the airline in writing. Most EU carriers publish an online EU261 claim form.
- 2If the airline refuses, escalate to the National Enforcement Body of the country the flight departed from. This is free.
- 3Claim companies will handle it for a commission of typically 25–35%. Filing yourself costs nothing and the process is designed to be done without a lawyer.
- 4Time limits to bring a claim are set by national law and range from one year to six years depending on the country.
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Regulations change. Confirm anything you intend to rely on with the authority linked above before you act.
Compiled August 20, 2026 — not yet confirmed against the official pageSource: European Commission