Current EU261 and UK261 rules remain the basis for present-day checks. The updated EU rules approved in July 2026 enter into force 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
Care rights while you wait
Care thresholds generally begin after two hours for short flights, three hours for medium distances and four hours for long-haul journeys. Under UK guidance, a delay of five hours can also create a choice not to travel and seek a refund for unused travel.
When fixed compensation becomes relevant
Current EU261 commonly uses a three-hour final-arrival threshold, subject to coverage and extraordinary circumstances. Standard EU bands are €250, €400 and €600. UK261 uses £220, £350, £260 or £520 depending on distance and long-haul arrival delay.
What the airline must prove
An airline relying on extraordinary circumstances should identify the external event and the reasonable measures taken. A generic phrase is not the same as evidence about the specific flight.
Evidence checklist
- Complete booking and final destination
- Flight number, date and operating carrier
- Scheduled and actual departure/arrival times
- Airline explanation and disruption messages
- Receipts for reasonable expenses