Cancelled flight compensation - when it is due and what rights you have

If a flight is cancelled, a passenger may be entitled to compensation of €250, €400 or €600 per person under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. If your flight is cancelled, you are also entitled to choose between a refund of the ticket price and re-routing, as well as care whilst you wait. Whether compensation is due for a cancelled flight depends on three factors: when you were notified of the cancellation, what alternative flight was offered to you, and the reason for the cancellation.

In brief:

If your flight is cancelled, the airline is obliged to offer you a refund of the ticket price or re-routing to your final destination - at the earliest opportunity or at a later date of your choice.
You may be entitled to compensation of €250, €400 or €600 per passenger when you are notified of the cancellation less than 14 days before the flight date - unless the airline has offered you a suitable alternative flight or the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances.
If notification is given between 14 and 7 days before the flight, no compensation is payable for a cancelled flight if the alternative flight offered departs no more than 2 hours earlier and arrives less than 4 hours after the originally scheduled time.
If notification is given less than 7 days before the flight, no compensation is payable in the event of flight cancellation if the alternative flight offered departs no more than 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours after the originally scheduled time.
A refund of the ticket price and compensation for a cancelled flight are two separate entitlements - even if the airline has refunded the cost of your ticket, you may still claim compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
In the event of a cancelled flight, the airline is obliged to provide care: food and drink, and, where the new flight does not depart until the following day at the earliest, hotel accommodation with transport to the hotel - regardless of the reason for the cancellation.

When are you entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight?

You may be entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, where:

you are notified of the cancellation less than 14 days before the flight date;
the flight departs from an airport in the EU (with any airline) or lands in the EU with an EU airline;
the cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances which the airline could not have avoided even if it had taken all reasonable measures.

When an airline offers you an alternative flight, your right to compensation for a cancelled flight also depends on when you were notified and the departure and arrival times of the new flight (see when compensation is not payable).

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 also applies in Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Similar protection in the event of a cancelled flight is also provided by the United Kingdom (UK261) and Turkey (SHY-YOLCU).

The right to compensation for a cancelled flight applies equally to scheduled, low-cost and charter flights. In the event of a flight cancellation by Wizz Air, Ryanair or easyJet, the conditions are the same as for traditional airlines.

Is a flight considered cancelled if the airline brings it forward?

Yes. When an airline brings your flight forward by more than one hour from the time stated on your booking, the flight is considered cancelled and you are entitled to the same rights as in the event of a cancellation: you may claim compensation for a cancelled flight if the conditions for this are met, and you are entitled to choose between a refund of the ticket price and re-routing, and, where necessary, care (judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in Case C-146/20).

When is an airline not liable to pay compensation for a cancelled flight?

Compensation for a cancelled flight is not payable in three cases:

when you are notified of the cancellation 14 days or more before the flight date;
where you are notified less than 14 days before the flight, but the airline has offered you an alternative flight within the limits set out in Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 for departure and arrival times;
where the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

Are you entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight if you are offered an alternative flight?

It depends on when you are notified of the cancellation and how much earlier the alternative flight departs and how much later it arrives. If you are notified less than 14 days before the flight, the alternative flight offered may exclude your right to compensation where it falls within the limits set out in the table.

When were you notified of the flight cancellation?	Right to compensation (where the cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances)
14 days or more before the flight	No compensation is payable for a cancelled flight
Between 14 and 7 days before the flight	This is payable, unless the airline offers you a flight that departs up to 2 hours earlier and arrives less than 4 hours later than the original flight
Less than 7 days before the flight	This is payable, unless the airline offers you a flight that departs up to 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours later than the original flight

Which reasons for flight cancellations may constitute extraordinary circumstances?

Examples of extraordinary circumstances in the event of a flight cancellation might include:

a strike by airport staff or air traffic controllers;
severe weather conditions which prevent the flight from being carried out safely;
a collision between the aircraft and birds (bird strike);
restrictions or decisions by air traffic control;
security risks, acts of terrorism or political instability.

However, the mere existence of an extraordinary circumstance does not automatically exempt the airline from its obligation to pay compensation in the event of a cancelled flight - the circumstance must have caused the cancellation of the specific flight and its consequences must not have been avoidable by taking all reasonable measures.

It is the airline that must prove that the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances. Claims of extraordinary circumstances often prove to be unfounded, which is why each specific case warrants individual scrutiny.

Which reasons for a cancelled flight are not usually considered extraordinary circumstances?

The following reasons do not, as a rule, exempt the airline from its obligation to pay compensation in the event of a flight cancellation, although airlines often cite them:

technical faults in the aircraft, including unexpected ones, where these are related to its normal operation;
absence or shortage of crew;
organisational and operational issues facing the airline;
a strike by the airline’s own staff - the mere fact that there is a strike does not automatically mean that it constitutes an extraordinary circumstance.

Even an unexpected technical problem does not, in principle, exempt the airline from liability if it is connected with the normal operation of the aircraft and arises from it (judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in Case C-257/14).

The following do not constitute extraordinary circumstances: the airline’s commercial decisions - for example, cancelling a flight due to low ticket sales or a change to the timetable. These are entirely within the carrier’s control.

How is the reason for the cancellation verified?

The explanation given by the airline for the cancellation does not, in itself, determine whether you are entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight. In the event of a cancellation, airlines most commonly cite air traffic restrictions and adverse weather conditions, and this claim must be verified in relation to the specific flight. Depending on the reason given for the flight cancellation, the verification may include:

whether the circumstance referred to by the airline actually occurred;
whether there were any restrictions at the airport in question or imposed by air traffic control;
whether there is a genuine causal link between the circumstance in question and the specific cancellation;
whether the airline took all reasonable measures to avoid the cancellation or to minimise its consequences.

For example, in the case of a cancellation attributed to bad weather, the decisive factor is not whether there was bad weather at all on the day of the flight, but whether the adverse weather conditions made it impossible to operate that particular flight.

When investigating each case of a cancelled flight, Aeroisk analyses the evidence regarding the stated reason and assesses it in the light of the applicable rules and case law. The investigation must establish whether this reason actually exempts the airline from the obligation to pay compensation for that specific flight.

How much is the compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004?

The amount of compensation depends on the distance between the first and the final airport of the journey and does not depend on the ticket price:

€250 - for flights of up to 1,500 km;
€400 - for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and for all flights within the EU of more than 1,500 km;
€600 - for flights of more than 3,500 km that are not entirely within the EU.

Compensation amount by flight distance - €250, €400 or €600

€250 ≤ 1,500 km

€400 1,500 - 3,500 km

€600 > 3,500 km (not entirely within the EU)

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How much compensation is payable for a cancelled flight on specific routes?

The examples below show how distance affects the amount of compensation. Entitlement to compensation also depends on the other conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 - in the case of a cancelled flight, entitlement arises when you are notified less than 14 days before the flight and the cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances.

Route	Distance	Passenger compensation
Plovdiv - Milan (Bergamo)	around 1,280 km	€250
Varna - Frankfurt	around 1,650 km	€400
Plovdiv - London	around 2,150 km	€400
Sofia - Malé (Maldives)	around 6,530 km	€600

Compensation for a cancelled flight may be reduced by half only if the airline has re-routed you and the alternative flight arrives at the final destination no later than a specified time after the original arrival time. The time limit is:

2 hours for flights of up to 1,500 km;
3 hours for flights within the EU of over 1,500 km and for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km;
4 hours for flights over 3,500 km that are not entirely within the EU.

How long do you have to claim compensation for a cancelled flight?

At present, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 does not specify a single European deadline for submitting a claim for compensation to an airline. The deadline by which you can pursue your claim through the courts is determined by the applicable national law. In Bulgaria, the limitation period for bringing a legal claim is three years. The time limits in other countries are summarised in the table on the delayed flights page.

From 23 October 2027, claims against the airline must be submitted within 9 months (see all changes).

What other rights do you have if your flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you are also entitled to choose between a refund of the ticket price and re-routing, as well as care from the airline. These rights apply regardless of the reason for the cancellation - including in the event of extraordinary circumstances, when financial compensation may not be payable.

What should the airline offer you if your flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, the airline is obliged to offer you a choice of three options under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

refund of the ticket price within 7 days - for the unused parts of the journey, and for the parts already used, if the journey has become pointless, together with a return flight to the original point of departure at the earliest opportunity, where applicable;
re-routing to the final destination under comparable conditions at the earliest opportunity;
re-routing under comparable conditions at a later date of your choice, subject to availability.

The right to care in the event of a cancelled flight continues whilst you are waiting to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity or, where applicable, to be flown back to your original point of departure. If you choose only a refund of the ticket price or re-routing at a later date of your choice, your right to care ceases.

Are you entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight if you get a refund for your ticket?

Yes, you can claim compensation. A refund of the ticket price and compensation for a cancelled flight are two separate entitlements. Choosing to have your money refunded does not deprive you of the right to claim compensation if the conditions for it are met.

What happens if the re-routed flight is also delayed or cancelled?

If, following the cancellation, you accept re-routing and the new flight is also cancelled or arrives 3 or more hours late, you may claim separate compensation for that flight as well - in addition to any compensation that may be due for the original cancellation (judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in Case C-832/18).

What care does the airline owe you if your flight is cancelled?

In the event of a cancelled flight, the airline is obliged to provide care regardless of the reason for the cancellation:

food and drink, in accordance with the length of stay;
hotel accommodation and free transport between the airport and the place of accommodation, where necessary, for one or more nights;
two free telephone calls, faxes or emails.

In the event of a cancelled flight, the hotel and transport must be provided where the new flight is scheduled to depart no earlier than the day after the originally scheduled flight.

If the airline fails to provide the care it is obliged to provide and you have to pay for food, drinks, a hotel or transport between the airport and your accommodation yourself, you can request a refund of necessary, appropriate and reasonable expenses. Keep your receipts and invoices as proof of the expenses incurred.

Can you get a refund if, following the cancellation of your flight, you buy a new ticket or pay for a hotel yourself?

If the airline does not offer you re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity and on comparable terms, and you have to organise your own journey, you may request a reimbursement of the costs of suitable alternative transport to your final destination. The airline may refuse to reimburse the additional costs if it can prove that it contacted you and offered you the necessary re-routing, but you nevertheless organised your journey yourself.

The costs of accommodation, meals and transport that you have paid for yourself whilst waiting to be re-routed are reimbursed as part of care. Keep your receipts, invoices and correspondence showing that the airline did not offer you a suitable alternative.

Reimbursement of the cost of a new ticket or hotel does not affect your right to compensation for a cancelled flight, provided the conditions for such compensation are met.

What information should the airline provide you with if your flight is cancelled?

In the event of a cancelled flight, the airline is obliged to provide each affected passenger with written notification setting out the rules on compensation and care under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, as well as the contact details of the competent national authority. When notifying you of the cancellation, the airline must also explain what alternative transport is available.

The airline must prove whether and when it notified you of the cancellation. Keep the cancellation notice, as the date on it is crucial in determining whether compensation is due for a cancelled flight.

What does the new EU Regulation provide for in the event of a cancelled flight?

Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 has now been adopted, but will apply from 23 October 2027.

9 months to claim compensation. The claim must be submitted to the airline within 9 months of the flight date shown on the ticket. The time limit for bringing a legal claim continues to be determined by national law.
30 days for the airline to respond. Once the airline has received your claim, it has 30 calendar days to pay the compensation or send you a reasoned refusal.
Refund of the ticket price without the need for a separate request. If you choose a refund of the ticket price, the airline must refund the amount within 7 calendar days of your choice, without you having to make a separate request, and by bank transfer, unless you have expressly agreed to another method (more on automatic refunds).
Independent re-routing after 3 hours. If you have requested to continue your journey but the airline has not offered you suitable re-routing on comparable terms within 3 hours of the scheduled departure time stated on your ticket, you may arrange transport to your final destination and claim reimbursement of your expenses - up to 400 per cent of the full price of the original ticket.

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We handle the whole process
We communicate with the airline and take the necessary action, including in refused and more complex cases.

How does the process of collecting your compensation work?

You register a claim

You enter the flight details and provide the necessary documents.

Aeroisk takes the case

We contact the airline and pursue the claim on your behalf. If it refuses to pay, we take the necessary administrative and legal action.

You receive up to €600 in compensation

If successful, the airline pays the compensation. A commission is only due if you receive compensation.

You can follow the progress of your claim in your personal account, and we email you whenever there is a change in your case. If you have any questions, you can always contact us by phone too.

Did the airline refuse to pay you?

The airline’s refusal does not necessarily mean that you are not entitled to compensation. The reason given in the refusal is not always sufficient to release the airline from liability.

See why airlines refuse to pay compensation and how you can proceed.

Sources and updates

This information has been compiled by the Aeroisk team, which specialises in protecting passengers’ rights and securing compensation for flight disruptions.

Reneta Yovkova is responsible for ensuring the legal information is up to date.

Legal basis and sources: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and its official summary on EUR-Lex in English; Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; Interpretative guidelines from the European Commission C/2024/5687 concerning Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU, including the judgments in cases C-549/07 (Wallentin-Hermann), C-257/14 (Van der Lans), C-12/11 (McDonagh), C-139/11 (Moré), C-832/18 (Finnair), joined cases C-146/20 and others (Azurair), C-76/23 (Cobult) and C-601/17 (Harms); the passenger rights regime in the United Kingdom, known as UK261; the Turkish Regulation on passenger rights SHY-YOLCU (SHY-PASSENGER).

Last updated: 14 October 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

My flight was cancelled, but the airline provided me with meals and a hotel. Am I also entitled to compensation?

Yes. Care and financial compensation are two separate rights. The provision of food, drink or accommodation does not extinguish the right to compensation and is not deducted from it.

Do I need to go to the airport if my flight has been cancelled?

No. If your flight is cancelled, you are not required to turn up for check-in at the airport in order to be entitled to compensation for the cancellation. Arriving on time for check-in is a condition for compensation in the event of a delayed flight or denied boarding.

My flight has been cancelled. Should I accept a voucher instead of a refund or compensation?

No. Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, compensation and a refund of the ticket price must be paid in cash - for example, by bank transfer or cheque. A voucher for travel or another service is only possible if you have agreed to this. Consent may also be given via an online form, but the choice must be free and informed, and the airline must have clearly presented you with the option of receiving a refund (judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in Case C-76/23).

The airline is offering me a new flight only in a few days’ time. Should I accept it?

You are not obliged to accept re-routing that is not for several days’ time if there is an earlier suitable option for reaching your final destination. Re-routing must be provided at the earliest opportunity and under comparable travel conditions. If necessary, the airline must also search for flights operated by other carriers and bears the burden of proving that it has offered re-routing at the earliest opportunity. Instead of re-routing, you may choose a refund of the ticket price, without this choice affecting your right to compensation for the cancellation, provided the conditions for such compensation are met.

Following the cancellation of my flight, the airline rebooked me onto a flight operated by another airline. Who is liable to pay me compensation?

Compensation for a cancelled flight is payable by the airline that was due to operate the cancelled flight, not by the carrier with which you were re-routed. Being re-routed with another airline does not affect your right to compensation, provided the conditions for it are met.

If my flight is cancelled and I am re-routed to another airport, who pays for the transport?

If your airline re-routes you to another airport serving the same city or region, it must cover the cost of transport from that airport to the airport specified in your booking or to another nearby location agreed with you.

My outbound flight has been cancelled. Will I get a refund for my return ticket as well?

If the outbound and return flights are part of a single booking and you opt for a refund, the airline must refund the cost of the unused parts of the journey, including the return flight. If the flights were purchased separately, as a rule, only the cost of the cancelled flight is refunded.

My flight was cancelled, and I bought the ticket through an agent. Will I get the commission back as well?

As a general rule, yes. In the event of a cancelled flight, the ticket price that the airline is required to refund also includes the agent’s commission, unless that commission was determined without the airline’s knowledge (judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU in Case C-601/17).

My return flight from a non-EU country has been cancelled. Am I entitled to compensation?

It depends on the airline. For flights from an airport outside the EU to an airport within the EU, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies only if the flight is operated by an EU carrier. If the carrier is not from the EU, other schemes may apply - for example, UK261 for flights from the United Kingdom or SHY-YOLCU for a flight from Turkey.

My ticket was purchased using miles or points. Am I entitled to compensation if the flight is cancelled?

Yes. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 also applies to tickets issued under a loyalty scheme or any other commercial programme. It does not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at a reduced fare which is not available, either directly or indirectly, to the general public.