Korean Air
KE / KAL · KR
Korean Air Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation
Korean Air is South Korea's flag carrier and largest airline, operating from its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN) near Seoul. A founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, Korean Air serves over 120 destinations across six continents and carries approximately 27 million passengers per year. The airline operates a wide fleet including Airbus A321s, A330s, A380s, and Boeing 747s, 777s, and 787 Dreamliners.
EC261 Only Applies to Korean Air's EU Departures
Korean Air is a non-EU carrier registered in South Korea. EC261/2004 applies only when Korean Air flights depart from an EU/EEA airport - for example, Paris CDG (CDG) to Seoul Incheon (ICN) or Amsterdam (AMS) to Seoul. Flights from Seoul Incheon to EU destinations are not covered by EC261. The regulation is triggered by departure from an EU airport, not by the destination or the airline's country of registration.
€250 - €600
EC261 compensation depends on flight distance. Korean Air's European routes to Seoul Incheon are long-haul flights exceeding 3,500 km, qualifying for the maximum €600 per passenger. This applies to all passengers regardless of cabin class or fare type.
- Paris CDG (CDG) → Seoul Incheon (ICN): €600
- Amsterdam (AMS) → Seoul Incheon (ICN): €600
- Frankfurt (FRA) → Seoul Incheon (ICN): €600
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) → Seoul Incheon (ICN): €600
- Prague (PRG) → Seoul Incheon (ICN): €600
- Seoul Incheon (ICN) → Any EU airport: Not covered
Korean Air operates extensive services between European cities and Seoul. If your Korean Air flight departed from an EU or EEA airport and was delayed by more than 3 hours on arrival, cancelled without adequate notice, or you were denied boarding, you may have a right to compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EC261/2004.
Not every disruption qualifies for compensation. Understanding the most common causes can help you assess whether your delay was within the airline's control.
Common Causes
Why Korean Air Flights Get Disrupted
- Typhoons and severe weather in East Asia - monsoon and typhoon seasons cause delays from June through October
- Heavy fog and winter weather at Incheon International Airport reducing visibility and runway capacity
- Technical faults requiring unscheduled maintenance on the diverse widebody fleet
- Air traffic congestion at busy European hub airports during peak travel periods
- Geopolitical airspace restrictions in the Korean Peninsula region occasionally requiring route adjustments
How to Claim Compensation from Korean Air Directly
Korean Air processes customer complaints through its online support portal. As a non-EU carrier, Korean Air's claims handlers may not always be well-versed in EC261 requirements. When filing your claim, explicitly reference EU Regulation 261/2004, confirm that your flight departed from an EU airport, and include your booking reference, flight number, scheduled and actual arrival times, and a description of the disruption.
DIY Process
Steps to Claim from Korean Air
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1
Gather your booking confirmation, boarding pass, and any disruption notifications from Korean Air
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2
Submit your claim through Korean Air's customer support portal, explicitly citing EC261/2004 and your EU departure airport
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3
Request the specific statutory compensation amount (€600 for most EU–Seoul routes)
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4
Allow up to 30 days for Korean Air to process your claim
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5
If rejected or if mileage is offered instead of cash, insist on monetary compensation and escalate to the relevant EU national enforcement body
Korean Air typically responds within 30 days. South Korean carriers sometimes offer goodwill gestures such as mileage credits rather than the statutory cash compensation. You are not obligated to accept mileage or vouchers - EC261 entitles you to cash payment. If Korean Air rejects your claim or fails to respond, escalate to the national enforcement body in the EU country where your flight departed.
Korean Air flight disrupted?
Check your eligibility and claim up to €600 in compensation.
Passenger
J. SMITH
Flight
BA 2761
LHR
London
BCN
Barcelona
STATUS
3H DELAYPassenger
M. JOHNSON
Flight
KL 1009
AMS
Amsterdam
FCO
Rome
STATUS
CANCELLEDFrequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most common questions about claiming EC261 compensation.
My Korean Air flight from Seoul to Amsterdam was delayed. Can I claim under EC261?
No. EC261/2004 only covers flights departing from EU/EEA airports. Your Korean Air flight from Seoul Incheon to Amsterdam departed from a non-EU airport and is not covered. Only the return leg - Amsterdam to Seoul - would qualify for EC261 compensation if disrupted.
Korean Air offered me SkyPass miles instead of cash. Do I have to accept?
No. Under EC261/2004, you are entitled to cash compensation (via bank transfer or cheque). Korean Air cannot require you to accept SkyPass miles, travel vouchers, or any other non-monetary compensation. You can politely decline the mileage offer and reiterate your request for the statutory cash amount of €600 (or the applicable amount for your flight distance).
Does Korean Air's SkyTeam membership affect how I file my claim?
Korean Air's SkyTeam membership is relevant if your flight was a codeshare. If you booked through Korean Air but the flight was operated by another SkyTeam carrier (such as Air France or KLM), you must file your EC261 claim with the operating carrier. If Korean Air operated the flight, your claim goes directly to Korean Air regardless of which airline sold you the ticket.
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Enter your flight details to see if you qualify for up to €600 per person.