Your rights under the law
Airlines count on passengers not knowing the law. Here is exactly what it says.
EU Regulation 261/2004
Applies to any flight departing from an EU/EEA airport, and to flights arriving there on an EU carrier. Delayed 3+ hours at arrival, cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or denied boarding: you are owed €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) or €600 (over 3,500 km) — per passenger, plus care and assistance.
UK Regulation 261
After Brexit the UK kept the same rules. Flights departing UK airports, or arriving there on an EU/UK carrier, carry compensation of £220 / £350 / £520 under the same delay and cancellation thresholds.
Israeli Aviation Services Law
Flights departing from or arriving to Israel: a delay of 8+ hours entitles the passenger to compensation of ₪1,490 (short routes), ₪2,390 (medium) or ₪3,580 (long routes), per passenger. Cancellations and denied boarding carry the same tiers.
Right to care and assistance
While you wait, the airline must provide meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation for overnight delays, transport between airport and hotel, and two free phone calls or emails — regardless of who caused the delay.
Right to a refund or re-routing
If your flight is cancelled, you may choose between a full refund of the ticket within 7 days, or the earliest re-routing to your destination under comparable conditions — at no extra cost.
'Extraordinary circumstances' are not a blank cheque
Airlines routinely blame weather, strikes or technical faults. Genuine extraordinary circumstances are narrow: hidden technical defects, staff sickness reported in advance, and routine maintenance do not count. We verify every airline claim against EUROCONTROL and weather records.
This page is general information about air passenger rights, not legal advice for a specific case.