UK261
UK261 is the UK's version of the EU flight compensation rules. It pays £220, £350 or £520 for long delays, cancellations and denied boarding.
Also called: UK Regulation 261, UK flight delay compensation, UK261 compensation
UK261 is the UK's version of the EU flight compensation rules. It pays £220, £350 or £520 for long delays, cancellations and denied boarding.
What it means
UK261 is the name people use for the United Kingdom's own version of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the air passenger rights law the UK kept after leaving the EU. It covers denied boarding, cancellations and long delays. Compensation is set by flight distance: £220 for flights under 1,500 km, £350 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and £520 for longer flights.
The rules apply to flights leaving UK airports on any airline, and to flights arriving in the UK from abroad on UK or EU airlines. For delays, the Civil Aviation Authority says you may be entitled to compensation if you reach your final destination more than three hours late. On flights over 3,500 km, the CAA lists £260 for a delay of three to four hours. Airlines do not have to pay if the cause was an extraordinary circumstance.
UK261 is separate from EU261, and a flight can fall under one, both or neither.
What it means for you
If your flight left the UK, or landed there on a UK or EU airline, you may have a claim even if you booked in the US. Claim directly from the airline, which does not pay automatically, and keep your booking and boarding documents. If the airline says the cause was extraordinary, ask for the specific reason. If it rejects your claim, the CAA's pages explain how to escalate. For court action, the CAA gives the legal time limit as six years in England and Wales and five years in Scotland, but it suggests contacting the airline as soon as possible.
Example
Say you fly from London Heathrow to New York on a US airline and land four and a half hours late. The flight left a UK airport, so UK261 applies even though the airline is American. At more than 3,500 km, you ask the airline for £520. If it says the delay was outside its control, you ask what happened and for the evidence.
FAQ
It is £220 for flights under 1,500 km, £350 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and £520 for longer flights. On flights over 3,500 km, the CAA lists £260 if you arrive between three and four hours late.
The CAA says the legal limit for court claims is six years from the incident in England and Wales and five years in Scotland. It suggests contacting your airline as soon as possible.
Related terms
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK, Article 3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk)
- UK Civil Aviation Authority, Delays
- UK Civil Aviation Authority, How the CAA can help
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.