UK261 Flight Compensation: Your Rights After Brexit
When the UK left the EU, it kept Regulation 261/2004 as "retained EU law" — now called UK261. For passengers, almost nothing changed except the currency and the enforcer.
What's the same
- Same 3-hour arrival delay threshold.
- Same cancellation and denied-boarding rules.
- Same "right to care" (meals, hotels).
- Same extraordinary-circumstances test and case law.
What's different
- Amounts are in pounds: £220 (≤1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km), £520 (>3,500 km).
- The enforcer is the UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), not an EU National Enforcement Body.
- ADR: AviationADR and CEDR handle UK airline disputes — check if your airline participates.
- Claim deadline: 6 years in England & Wales (5 in Scotland) — among the longest in Europe.
- Scope: UK261 covers flights departing the UK (any airline) and flights arriving in the UK on UK/EU airlines. For EU-departing flights, EU261 applies instead.
Which regulation for my flight?
| Route | Regulation |
|---|---|
| London → anywhere (any airline) | UK261 |
| Anywhere → London, UK airline | UK261 |
| Paris → London, EU airline | EU261 |
| New York → London, US airline | Neither for compensation — but DOT refund rules apply |
Per the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as amended. Last verified October 2026.