Heathrow Airport Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation

How much compensation for a Heathrow delay?

Compensation depends on the flight distance: £220 for flights up to 1,500 km (e.g. LHR–Paris, LHR–Amsterdam), £350 for 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. LHR–Istanbul, LHR–Antalya), and £520 for flights over 3,500 km (e.g. LHR–Dubai, LHR–New York, LHR–Cairo, LHR–Hong Kong). The 3+ hour arrival delay threshold applies for UK261 compensation claims.

Which airlines must comply with UK261 at Heathrow?

All airlines operating departures from London Heathrow must comply with UK261. This includes British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, American Airlines, Delta, United, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, and every other carrier that departs from LHR. UK261 applies regardless of where the airline is registered.

I was delayed at Heathrow — what documents do I need?

Gather: (1) booking confirmation with flight number and ticket number; (2) boarding pass (or evidence of check-in if no boarding pass was issued); (3) evidence of the actual arrival time — track via FlightAware, FlightRadar24, or the airline's own delay confirmation; (4) any communication from the airline about the delay cause. Submit these with your UK261 claim to the airline within a reasonable time. If rejected, escalate to CEDR Aviation with the rejection letter.

The airline cited ATC restrictions at Heathrow — can I still claim?

Possibly yes. Heathrow operates at near-full capacity and ATC slot restrictions are a daily occurrence — these are not extraordinary circumstances. Only a genuine ATC strike by third-party controllers (not routine capacity management) qualifies as extraordinary. If the airline cites ATC restrictions without evidence of an actual strike or force majeure event, challenge the rejection. Eurocontrol's CTOT (Calculated Take-Off Time) data is publicly accessible and can confirm whether a genuine restriction was in effect.

How long do I have to claim for a Heathrow delay?

UK261 claims have a 6-year limitation period under the UK Limitation Act 1980. This is the most generous deadline in Europe. However, evidence deteriorates over time — flight records, delay confirmations, and booking data become harder to obtain years later. Submit your claim as soon as possible even if you technically have up to 6 years. CEDR Aviation handles escalations free of charge.