UK261 Flight Compensation
The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 — £220 to £520
What is UK261?
UK261 is the United Kingdom's post-Brexit equivalent of EU Regulation 261/2004. It retained the same core passenger rights framework but applies to UK airports and UK-registered airlines, with amounts expressed in pounds sterling.
If you fly to or from a UK airport, or on a UK airline to a UK destination, UK261 governs your compensation rights — not EU261.
Which flights are covered?
UK261 applies when either of these is true:
- Your flight departs from a UK airport — regardless of the airline's nationality.
- Your flight arrives at a UK airport, and the operating airline is UK-registered.
Examples: London Heathrow → New York on any airline ✓ | JFK → London on British Airways ✓ | JFK → London on Delta ✗ (non-UK carrier departing outside UK).
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 |
As under EU261, compensation may be halved for re-routed passengers who arrive less than 4 hours late on long-haul flights.
Delays, cancellations, and denied boarding
The rules mirror EU261 almost exactly:
- Delays: Compensation is owed when you arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late. Departure time doesn't matter — only arrival.
- Cancellations: Compensation is owed unless you received at least 14 days' notice before departure.
- Denied boarding: If you were involuntarily bumped due to overbooking, the fixed amount is owed plus a choice of refund or re-routing.
- Downgrade: 30% / 50% / 75% of ticket price refunded depending on distance.
Extraordinary circumstances
Airlines can avoid paying if the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside their control. The case law from EU261 — Wallentin-Hermann (technical faults are NOT extraordinary), Krüsemann (airline crew strikes are NOT extraordinary) — was developed before Brexit and continues to heavily influence UK tribunal and court decisions under UK261.
How to claim
Send a written demand to the airline citing the specific UK261 regulation and the amount owed. If refused, escalate to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme — most UK airlines are members of either CEDR Aviation or Aviation ADR. You can also file a complaint with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The UK small-claims track (Money Claims Online) is a powerful option — filing fee is under £100 for claims up to £10,000, and airlines frequently settle before the hearing.
Use our step-by-step claim guide for a letter template, or a specialist service to handle it for you.
Time limit
6 years in England and Wales; 5 years in Scotland. These are among the longest limitation periods of any major passenger-rights regime — but don't wait, as evidence and records become harder to obtain over time.