Since Brexit, the UK has operated its own version of EC261, commonly known as UK261. The rules are substantively identical to the EU regulation: the same compensation amounts, the same extraordinary circumstances defence, the same passenger rights. The main differences relate to geographic scope and enforcement mechanisms. For passengers departing from UK airports or flying with UK carriers, the protections remain robust and the six-year limitation period is the longest available anywhere.
What UK261 covers
UK261 applies to flights departing from any UK airport (on any airline) and flights arriving in the UK on a UK-based carrier. This mirrors the EU regulation's structure. The compensation amounts are identical to EC261: £220/£350/£520, which are the sterling equivalents of €250/€400/€600 at the exchange rate set when the regulation was retained.
For flights between the UK and the EU, passengers may be covered by both UK261 and EC261 depending on the direction and carrier. A flight from London to Paris on any airline is covered by UK261. The same flight on an EU carrier would also be covered by EC261. In practice, the result is the same either way.
Time limit
The UK applies a six-year limitation period from the date of the flight, the longest of any jurisdiction. This means you can claim for flights going back to 2020 or even earlier if you are reading this in 2026. The generous window is based on general English contract law and has been confirmed by UK courts as applicable to flight compensation claims.
The CAA and ADR schemes
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK's enforcement body for passenger rights. The CAA accepts complaints, investigates airline practices, and can take enforcement action against persistent offenders. While the CAA does not resolve individual disputes directly, its involvement signals regulatory attention.
For individual resolution, the UK has two main ADR schemes: CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and AviationADR. Airlines operating in the UK are required to either join an approved ADR scheme or handle complaints through their own processes. If an airline is a member of an ADR scheme, you can refer your unresolved complaint for free arbitration.
UK escalation
The UK claims process
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1
Submit your claim directly to the airline — use their specific complaints or EC261 claims portal
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2
Wait 8 weeks for a response (the standard UK complaint handling period)
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3
If unresolved, check if the airline is a member of CEDR or AviationADR and file for free arbitration
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4
If the airline is not in an ADR scheme, file a claim through Money Claims Online (the UK's small claims portal)
UK small claims court
The UK's small claims track is well-suited to EC261/UK261 claims. Claims up to £10,000 can be filed through Money Claims Online for a modest fee (around £35 to £70 depending on the amount). The process is designed for litigants in person, and no lawyer is needed. Many cases settle before a hearing, as airlines prefer to avoid the cost and precedent of a court judgment.
EU flights and UK passengers
UK passengers flying from EU airports are still covered by EU EC261, regardless of Brexit. A UK citizen delayed on a flight from Barcelona to Manchester is protected by the EU regulation (because the flight departs from the EU). The airline's nationality does not matter for EU departures.
Seasonal disruptions and weather verification
UK airports experience a variety of weather-related disruptions. Winter fog is common at Heathrow, Gatwick, and regional airports from November through February. Snow and ice, while less frequent than in continental Europe, can cause significant disruption when they occur because UK airports have less de-icing capacity. Summer thunderstorms affect London airports particularly in July and August.
To verify weather claims, use the Met Office, which publishes colour-coded weather warnings (yellow, amber, red) and provides historical observation data. The Met Office also provides aviation-specific forecasts. If no weather warning was in effect at the time of your disruption, the airline's weather defence is considerably weakened. NATS (the UK's air traffic service) publishes information about ATC restrictions that can confirm or refute ATC-related excuses.