EU261 for Flights to Africa — Complete Guide: When You're Covered
EU/UK carrier from anywhere = always covered. Non-EU African carrier from EU/UK airport = covered. Non-EU African carrier from African airport = NOT covered. Most Europe–Africa routes exceed 3,500 km — long-haul tier of €600 (or £520) per passenger applies. This is the definitive Africa EU261/UK261 eligibility map.
Two-part eligibility test
1. Is the operating airline an EU or UK carrier (KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, BA, Brussels Airlines, TAP, Swiss, Iberia, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air etc.)? — if yes, covered both directions.
2. Did your flight depart from an EU or UK airport? — if yes, covered regardless of carrier.
If both no — not covered.
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Africa EU261/UK261 Eligibility Table
| Flight situation | Regulation | Covered? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any flight departing EU airport — any airline | EU261 | ✅ Yes | EU airport departure triggers regardless of carrier nationality. |
| Any flight departing UK airport — any airline | UK261 | ✅ Yes | UK airport departure — UK261 applies. |
| EU carrier (KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, BA, Brussels, TAP, Swiss) from anywhere | EU261/UK261 | ✅ Always | EU/UK-registered carrier — covered worldwide. |
| Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca / Marrakech / Fez | None | ❌ No | Non-EU/UK carrier on non-EU airport. |
| Kenya Airways from Nairobi | None | ❌ No | Non-EU/UK carrier on non-EU airport. |
| Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa | None | ❌ No | Non-EU/UK carrier on non-EU airport. |
| EgyptAir from Cairo | None | ❌ No | Non-EU/UK carrier on non-EU airport. |
| South African Airways from Johannesburg | None | ❌ No | Non-EU/UK carrier on non-EU airport. |
Compensation Amounts — Most Africa Routes Are Long-Haul
Distance bands under EU261/UK261:
- €250 / £220 — up to 1,500 km (Spain/France/UK to Morocco/Algeria/Tunisia is mostly within or just above 1,500 km).
- €400 / £350 — 1,500–3,500 km (Northern Europe to Egypt; UK to Casablanca; Germany to Tunis).
- €600 / £520 — over 3,500 km (everything south of Egypt: Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius).
Enforcement Bodies by Departure Airport
- UK airports (LHR, LGW, MAN, STN, LTN): CAA + CEDR ADR. UK261. 6-year limitation.
- France (CDG, ORY, MRS, LYS, NCE): DGAC. EU261. 5-year limitation.
- Netherlands (AMS): ILT + Geschillencommissie. EU261. 2-year limitation.
- Germany (FRA, MUC, BER): LBA + SÖP. EU261. 3-year limitation.
- Belgium (BRU): DGT. EU261. 1-year limitation — shortest in the EU; act fast.
- Portugal (LIS, OPO): ANAC. EU261. 3-year limitation.
- Spain (MAD, BCN, AGP): AESA. EU261. 5-year limitation.
- Italy (FCO, MXP): ENAC. EU261. 2-year limitation.
Key EU/UK Carriers Serving Africa
- KLM: AMS hub — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Cairo, Kilimanjaro.
- Air France: CDG hub — extensive West/Central Africa network (Dakar, Abidjan, Bamako, Conakry, Kinshasa, Yaoundé, Douala etc.).
- Lufthansa: FRA/MUC — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Tripoli (suspended).
- British Airways: LHR — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Cairo, Dar es Salaam.
- Brussels Airlines: BRU — 14 African destinations (Dakar, Abidjan, Bamako, Conakry, Kigali, Entebbe, Kinshasa, Bujumbura, etc.).
- TAP Air Portugal: LIS — Lusophone Africa (Luanda, Maputo, Bissau, Praia, São Tomé).
- Iberia: MAD — Equatorial Guinea, Senegal.
- Ryanair / easyJet / Transavia / TUI / Condor: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt holiday/charter.
Missed Connection Returning from Africa
Many Europe–Africa returns connect through Amsterdam, Paris, London or Brussels. On a single ticket operated by an EU/UK carrier, EU261/UK261 protects the entire journey — final-destination delay vs original schedule is what counts. CJEU C-451/20 confirms protection through non-EU connection points.
Quick Eligibility Check
Run a free 2-minute eligibility check at the ClaimWinger delayed-flight tool or cancelled-flight tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EU261 apply to flights to Africa?
It depends on the airline and departure airport. EU261 applies to any flight departing an EU airport (regardless of carrier) and to any flight operated by an EU carrier (regardless of departure). Non-EU African airlines departing African airports are NOT covered. Most Europe–Africa routes exceed 3,500 km and qualify for the €600 long-haul tier.
Are non-EU African airlines like Royal Air Maroc covered?
Only when departing from EU/UK airports. RAM, EgyptAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, SAA, Air Algérie, Tunisair are all non-EU. They are covered ONLY by EU261/UK261 when departing EU/UK airports. The return from African airports is not covered on these carriers.
What about KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways flying to Africa?
Always covered. EU/UK-registered carriers (KLM, AF, LH, BA, Brussels Airlines, TAP, Swiss, Iberia) trigger EU261/UK261 regardless of departure airport. Both directions of any of their Africa routes are protected. €600 (or £520) per passenger for long-haul delays of 3+ hours.
How much can I claim for an Africa flight delay?
EU261: €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km), €600 (over 3,500 km). Most Europe–Africa routes exceed 3,500 km — Casablanca, Marrakech and Tunis are within 1,500–3,500 km from northern Europe; everything south of Egypt is over 3,500 km. UK261 amounts: £220 / £350 / £520.
What's the limitation period for Africa-departing claims?
If the flight departs an EU airport, the country's national period applies: France 5y, Germany 3y, Netherlands 2y, Italy 2y, Spain 5y, Belgium 1y (shortest), Portugal 3y. UK departures: 6y. African airports' departures aren't covered (except via EU/UK carriers, where the carrier's home jurisdiction may apply).
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