IrelandMy flight from Dublin was cancelled. What compensation am I owed?
You may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, which applies in Ireland — not the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936, which does not address flight cancellation compensation.
What the Law Says
The Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936 does not provide for passenger compensation for flight cancellations. Instead, your rights come from EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which is directly applicable in Ireland.
EU Regulation 261/2004 gives air passengers the right to compensation when a flight is cancelled, unless the airline can prove extraordinary circumstances caused the cancellation.
The amount depends on flight distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km (e.g., Dublin to London or Paris); €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km or non-EU flights between 1,500–3,500 km; and €600 for all other flights over 3,500 km (e.g., Dublin to New York).
You must have checked in on time and been informed of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure to qualify — unless the airline offered re-routing with comparable timing.
The Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936 s. 5 deals only with general powers of the Minister for Transport regarding air navigation and safety, and contains no provisions on passenger rights or compensation.
Statutory TextThe Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936 s. 5:
— Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936, s. 5
What to Do
Check if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure and wasn’t due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., severe weather, air traffic control strikes).
Contact the airline in writing (email recommended) to request compensation, quoting EU Regulation 261/2004.
If the airline refuses without valid justification, escalate to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) in Ireland at https://www.aviationregulation.ie.
Keep copies of your booking confirmation, boarding pass (if issued), and all correspondence.
Sources
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JapanNot 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.