European UnionHow much compensation am I entitled to for a cancelled long-haul flight?
You may be entitled to €600 compensation for a cancelled long-haul flight (over 3,500 km) if the airline did not inform you at least 14 days before departure and no extraordinary circumstances apply.
What the Law Says
Your right to compensation for a cancelled long-haul flight is set out in EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies to all flights departing from an EU airport — and to flights arriving in the EU operated by an EU airline.
The amount of compensation depends on the flight distance. For long-haul flights — defined as over 3,500 kilometres — the fixed compensation is €600 per passenger, unless the airline offered re-routing that arrives no more than four hours later than the original scheduled arrival time.
However, no compensation is due if the airline informed you of the cancellation at least 14 days before the scheduled departure time. If notice was given between 7 and 14 days before departure, compensation is reduced by 50% (i.e., €300), provided re-routing allows arrival no more than four hours after the scheduled time.
Compensation also does not apply if the cancellation resulted from 'extraordinary circumstances' which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Statutory Text€600 for all flights not falling under paragraph 1 or 2, i.e. for all flights of more than 3 500 km;
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1)(c) — Amount of compensation
Statutory TextWhere reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 shall apply, unless the operating air carrier can prove that the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 5(3) — Extraordinary circumstances
Statutory Textcompensation shall be reduced by 50 % where the passenger is informed of the cancellation less than two weeks but at least seven days before the scheduled time of departure and where the passenger is offered re-routing allowing him to depart no more than one hour before the scheduled time of departure and to reach his final destination less than four hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(2) — Reduction of compensation
What Courts Have Said
European courts have clarified key aspects of Regulation 261/2004, especially regarding extraordinary circumstances and the scope of airline obligations.
Confirmed that passengers are entitled to compensation for long delays and cancellations unless extraordinary circumstances apply — establishing that delay and cancellation rights are equally grounded in the regulation.
Held that technical problems stemming from poor maintenance are not extraordinary circumstances — airlines must show such issues were truly unforeseeable and beyond their control.
What to Do
Check whether your flight qualifies: departure from EU or arrival in EU on an EU airline, distance >3,500 km, cancellation without 14-day notice.
Contact the airline in writing (email recommended) to request compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — quote Article 7.
If denied without valid justification (e.g., no proof of extraordinary circumstances or timely re-routing), file a complaint with your national enforcement body (NEB).
You have up to 2 years from the scheduled flight date to make a claim (deadline varies slightly by Member State, but 2 years is the minimum guaranteed).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.