Flight delay and cancellation compensation: your rights

Which rules apply to my flight?

• EU 261/2004: flights departing from an airport in an EU Member State; for flights from outside the EU into the EU, only if the operating airline is an EU (Community) carrier (Article 3).
• SHY-YOLCU (Türkiye): scheduled and non-scheduled flights of Turkish airlines to and from airports in Türkiye, and of foreign airlines from airports in Türkiye (Article 2).
• Both require a confirmed reservation and timely check-in (if no time is given, at the latest 45 minutes before departure).

EU 261/2004 compensation amounts (Article 7)

• Flights of 1500 km or less: EUR 250
• Intra-EU flights over 1500 km and other flights between 1500 and 3500 km: EUR 400
• All other flights: EUR 600

SHY-YOLCU compensation amounts (Article 8)

• Domestic flights: EUR 100
• International, 1500 km or less: EUR 250
• International, 1500–3500 km: EUR 400
• International, over 3500 km: EUR 600
• If re-routing gets you there within set limits (2/3/4 hours), the airline may reduce compensation by 50%.

When is a delay compensated?

• EU: according to the EU's Your Europe portal, passengers arriving at their final destination 3 hours or more late are entitled to compensation unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
• SHY-YOLCU: if a flight is delayed for technical or operational reasons and you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late, the airline must meet its compensation (Article 8) and refund/re-routing (Article 9) obligations (Article 7(3), 2024 amendment).
• Depending on delay length and distance, meals and refreshments and, if needed, hotel accommodation and transfers must be provided free of charge (261/2004 Article 9, SHY-YOLCU Article 10).

Cancellation and denied boarding

• If you were not informed at least two weeks before departure, you are entitled to compensation unless an exception applies (261/2004 Article 5, SHY-YOLCU Article 6). The airline must prove when you were informed.
• For cancellation or denied boarding you can choose between a refund and re-routing (261/2004 Article 8, SHY-YOLCU Article 9).
• No compensation is due if the airline proves the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

How to claim

1. First complain in writing to the operating airline.
2. For flights covered by EU 261/2004, you can complain to the national enforcement body designated by the relevant Member State (Article 16).
3. For flights in Türkiye, you can apply through the SHGM complaint system (kdmerp.shgm.gov.tr) if the airline does not resolve it.
4. Keep your boarding pass, ticket/booking, delay or cancellation notice and receipts.

Good to know

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rely on the official sources below for the current, binding text.

Official sources

• SHGM – Havayolu ile Seyahat Eden Yolcuların Haklarına Dair Yönetmelik (SHY-YOLCU)
• SHGM – Yolcu Hakları ve başvuru usul ve esasları
• EUR-Lex – Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
• Your Europe (European Union) – Air passenger rights