Air passenger rights regulations are frameworks established globally to safeguard the interests of travelers. Notable examples include the EU Regulation 261/2004, Turkey's SHY-Passenger Rights Regulation, and Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations. These regulations collectively ensure that passengers in 3 regions are well-informed and protected during unexpected travel disturbances.
EC Regulation 261 of 2004 - Air Passenger Rights
Eligible Cases
EU Regulation 261/2004, known as EU 261, safeguards passenger rights in cases of:
- Flight cancellations
- Flight delays and missed connecting flights, in particularly
- Involuntary denied boarding
and covers flights:
- Within the EU by EU or non-EU airlines
- Arriving in the EU from outside by EU airlines
- Departing the EU to non-EU countries by EU or non-EU airlines
| Route / Airline | The airline is from EU | The airline is not from EU |
| From outside EU to outside EU | No | No |
| From outside EU to EU | Yes | No |
| From EU to outside EU | Yes | Yes |
| From EU to EU | Yes | Yes |
Provisions
Cancellation: Passengers can choose reimbursement or route changes. Compensation is available if passengers were not informed within specified timeframes.
Delay: Assistance must be provided for delays of 2+ hours (flights up to 1500 km), 3+ hours (EU flights longer than 1500 km and all flights between 1500 and 3500 km), or 4+ hours (all other flights). For delays longer than 3 hours passengers might be eligible for compensation.
Denied Boarding: In cases of overbooking, involuntary denied boarding grants passengers the right to compensation, ticket reimbursement, or a route change.
Missed Connecting Flights: Connective flights with a 3+ hours delay at the final destination lead to compensation, based on delay length and distance, if the flights were booked under a single reservation. Compensation doesn't apply for missed connections due to security delays or boarding time non-compliance.
Compensation Amounts
For flight disruptions under EU law passengers might be entitled to compensation. The amount ranges from €250 to €600. If the airline has offered a passenger a re-routing and they reached the final destination faster, the compensation may be reduced by 50%.
Additional Services
In some cases, passengers might also receive assistance, reimbursement, and return options, based on delay duration and flight distance.
Check if your disrupted flight is eligible for compensation with our EU 261 claim form.
Turkish regulation on disrupted flights
Turkish air passenger rights regulation outlines provisions for travelers in the scenarios of denied boarding, delay, and cancellation. This regulation applies to flights operated by Turkish carriers from/to Turkish airports, as well as foreign carriers from Turkish airports. In some aspects, this regulation is similar to European EC 261, but has some significant differences, especially in the part regarding flight delays.
| Route \ Airline | The airline is from Turkey | The airline is not from Turkey |
| From outside Turkey to outside Turkey | No | No |
| From outside Turkey to Turkey | Yes | No |
| From Turkey to outside Turkey | Yes | Yes |
| From Turkey to Turkey | Yes | Yes |
Provisions
- Denied Boarding: In cases of overbooking, involuntary denied boarding grants passengers the right to compensation, ticket reimbursement, or a route change.
- Cancellation: Passengers can choose reimbursement or route changes for non-force majeure cancellations. Compensation is available if passengers were not informed within specified timeframes.
- Delay: Assistance must be provided for delays of 2+ hours (short international/domestic flights), 3+ hours (1500-3500 km international), or 4+ hours (long-haul international).
Compensation under Turkish law
- Domestic flights: €100
- International flights up to 1500 km: €250
- International flights 1500-3500 km: €400
- International flights over 3500 km: €600
Assistance
- Communication (calls, messages, emails).
- Meals: Beverages (2-3 hours delay), beverages plus meals (3-5 hours delay), beverages and snacks (5+ hours delay).
- Hotel accommodation and airport transportation in case of overnight delay
Canadian Air Passenger Protection regulations
Eligibility and Coverage
These regulations apply to flights involving Canada, including connecting flights. Airlines are classified as large (over 2 million passengers in two preceding years) or small.
Compensation Amounts
Delay or Cancellation
Large Airline:
- $400 for delays of 3+ hours
- $700 for delays of 6+ hours
- $1,000 for delays of 9+ hours
Small Airline:
- $125 for delays of 3+ hours
- $250 for delays of 6+ hours
- $500 for delays of 9+ hours
Denial of Boarding
- $900 for delays < 6 hours
- $1,800 for delays between 6 and 9 hours
- $2,400 for delays > 9 hours
Additional Services
Airlines must provide passengers with information, alternate travel arrangements, refunds, and compensation for inconvenience, as applicable.
Standard of Treatment
After 2 hours’ wait, airlines must offer free:
- Reasonable food and drink
- Communication access
For overnight waits, airlines must provide:
- Hotel accommodations
- Transportation to and from the airport.
Disrupted baggage claims
Under the EU rules the airline is liable for the lost, damaged, or delayed check-in baggage and for the damaged hand baggage. The compensation amount is up to €1300. A passenger should file a claim in writing to the airline within 7 days after the baggage was lost or damaged and within 21 days after receiving delayed baggage.
When flights don't qualify for compensation
Airlines' obligations are limited or even excluded in cases of unavoidable extraordinary circumstances, also called force majeure, like political instability, meteorological conditions, natural disasters, wildlife collisions (bird strikes), security risks, safety issues, and strikes affecting operations. Note that airline staff strikes do not qualify as unavoidable circumstances. If you are not sure, whether the reason for flight disruption was extraordinary, or if in case of your delay other flights operated, it is better to double-check if compensation is not due. Apply using our simple form.