Ryanair delay compensation: what you can claim and how
Ryanair is an Irish airline with a UK arm, so its flights from the UK fall under UK261 and its flights from Europe under EU261. That decides whether you're paid in pounds or euros. Here's how it works when your Ryanair flight lands more than three hours late or is cancelled at short notice.
- Flight from the UK: UK261, paid in pounds (£220–£520).
- Flight from the EU: EU261, paid in euros (€250–€600).
- Most Ryanair routes are under 3,500 km: £220/€250 or £350/€400 per person.
- Ryanair is signed up to AviationADR if it rejects your claim.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | €600 |
UK261 or EU261 on Ryanair?
It depends on where your flight took off. London Stansted to Dublin is a UK departure, so UK261 applies and amounts are in pounds. Dublin to Stansted is an EU departure on an EU airline, so EU261 applies and amounts are in euros. Flights into the UK from outside Europe on Ryanair are covered too, because Ryanair is a UK/EU airline. You can't be paid twice for the same flight.
How much compensation from Ryanair?
Some example distances from UK and Irish airports:
- London Stansted – Dublin (about 470 km): £220
- London Stansted – Budapest (about 1,450 km): £220
- London Stansted – Malta (about 2,110 km): £350
- Dublin – Stansted (EU departure): €250
Ryanair's network is mainly short and medium-haul, so the long-haul £520 rate rarely applies. The amount is per passenger and doesn't depend on the fare – a £20 ticket can be owed £220.
Delays Ryanair often blames on others
Ryanair, like other airlines, may say a delay was caused by air traffic control restrictions or strikes by air traffic controllers, which are extraordinary circumstances. Strikes by an airline's own staff, crew shortages and technical faults are generally not. If you're given a reason you're unsure about, it's worth having the flight checked – the airline has to be able to explain its reason.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
How to claim from Ryanair
Ryanair has an online EU261 claim form on its website. You'll need your reservation number and the details of every passenger. Food, drink and hotel costs are claimed separately with receipts.
If Ryanair rejects your claim or hasn't given a final answer after eight weeks, you can take it to AviationADR, the alternative dispute resolution scheme Ryanair is signed up to (according to the CAA's list, checked 2 November 2026). ADR is free for passengers.
Prefer someone else to handle it? We check your Ryanair flight for free and you only pay if we win.
Want to claim from Ryanair yourself? Start at Ryanair's help page on applying for compensation. Travel On Board is an independent claims service and is not connected to Ryanair.
Questions people ask
How much is Ryanair compensation for a 3 hour delay?
On most Ryanair routes from the UK it's £220 (under 1,500 km) or £350 (1,500–3,500 km) per person, if you arrived more than three hours late and it wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Does Ryanair pay compensation for cancelled flights?
Yes, if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause wasn't extraordinary circumstances – on top of your choice of a refund or a new flight.
Will Ryanair pay me in pounds or euros?
It depends on which law applies. Flights from the UK fall under UK261 (pounds); flights from the EU fall under EU261 (euros).
How much do you charge?
Checking your flight is free. If we win, our fee is 25% of the compensation, with no VAT. If you don't get paid, you pay nothing. If a claim has to go to a solicitor or court, the fee is 45%, and no court action starts without your OK.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
More flight compensation guides
Sources
Checked against official guidance on 2 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
- CAA – Delays (UK261)
- CAA – Cancellations
- CAA – Am I entitled to compensation? (extraordinary circumstances)
- CAA – Alternative Dispute Resolution (which airlines are signed up)
- Your Europe (European Union) – Air passenger rights
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