EU Flight Compensation Data
Open data and research on flight compensation rights, claim rates, and airline performance across Europe. Free to cite, share, and build upon.
€5.9B
Compensation goes unclaimed annually across the EU
2-4%
Of eligible passengers actually file claims
€600
Maximum compensation for long-haul flights over 3,500km
13 years
Portugal's statute of limitations (EU's most generous)
€250-400
Compensation for short/medium-haul flights
3 hours
Minimum delay to qualify for compensation
What causes flight disruptions?
Not all delays qualify for compensation. Airlines can deny claims for "extraordinary circumstances" beyond their control. Here's the breakdown:
| Cause | Compensable? | Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical problems | Yes ✅ | 38% | Aircraft defects, mechanical failures |
| Airport congestion/Poor scheduling | Yes ✅ | 22% | Airline operational issues |
| Crew shortage | Yes ✅ | 12% | Pilot/staffing issues |
| Severe weather | No ❌ | 15% | Extraordinary circumstances |
| ATC strikes | No ❌ | 8% | Air traffic control, minus wildcat strikes |
| Security threats | No ❌ | 3% | Terrorism, war, political instability |
Source: Based on CJEU rulings including Wallentin-Hermann (2008), Pešková (2017), TUIfly (2017), and industry analysis.
Compensation amounts by flight distance
EU Regulation EC 261/2004 sets fixed compensation amounts based on flight distance, not ticket price. Per passenger — so a family of 4 on a long-haul flight could receive €2,400.
€250
Under 1,500 km
Lisbon → Madrid, London → Paris
€400
1,500 – 3,500 km
Lisbon → London, Barcelona → Berlin
€600
Over 3,500 km
Lisbon → New York, Paris → Tokyo
Busiest EU airports by passenger volume
Flight volume correlates with disruption potential. Airports with higher disruption ratings see more eligible compensation claims.
| Airport | Country | Annual Passengers | Disruption Risk | Avg. Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow (LHR) | UK | 76M | High | 18 min |
| Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | France | 67M | High | 16 min |
| Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) | Netherlands | 52M | Very High | 22 min |
| Frankfurt (FRA) | Germany | 48M | Medium | 15 min |
| Barcelona El Prat (BCN) | Spain | 42M | High | 19 min |
| Madrid Barajas (MAD) | Spain | 50M | Medium | 14 min |
| Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS) | Portugal | 30M | Very High | 24 min |
| Munich (MUC) | Germany | 28M | Low | 12 min |
Use our data
Journalists, researchers, and content creators: You're free to use this data. Just link back to FlightOwed when you do.
Citation format:
"EU Flight Compensation Statistics" — FlightOwed (flightowed.com)Sources & References
Regulatory Framework: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — European Parliament and Council
Case Law: CJEU rulings Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07), Pešková (C-315/15), TUIfly (C-531/17), and others
Industry Data: Eurostat, FlightAware, and aggregated airline performance reports. Passenger figures based on 2024 preliminary data.
Claim Rate Estimates: Based on EC enforcement reports and industry analysis of actual vs. projected claims filed.