Kenya Airways EU261 — Nairobi Flights from Europe
Kenya Airways (KQ) is non-EU. EU261/UK261 covers ONLY EU/UK departures: Amsterdam, Paris, London. Return from Nairobi NOT covered. €600 / £520 long-haul if eligible. Choose KLM or BA for both-way protection.
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When is Kenya Airways Covered?
| Route | Carrier | EU261/UK261? | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam → Nairobi | KQ | YES (EU departure) | €600 |
| Nairobi → Amsterdam | KQ | NO (non-EU origin, non-EU carrier) | — |
| Paris → Nairobi | KQ | YES | €600 |
| Nairobi → Paris | KQ | NO | — |
| London → Nairobi | KQ | YES (UK261) | £520 |
| Nairobi → London | KQ | NO | — |
Both-Way Protection — Use EU/UK Carriers
For full both-way EU261 coverage, choose KLM (Dutch EU), BA (UK), Air France (French EU) or Lufthansa (German EU). All four operate Nairobi from their hubs and cover both outbound and return legs.
Filing the Claim — EU/UK Departures Only
File at kenya-airways.com citing EU261/UK261 and the EU/UK departure airport. If rejected after 4-8 weeks, escalate to the NEB of the departure country: Netherlands ILT (2yr), France DGAC (5yr), UK CAA + CEDR (6yr). Or use ClaimWinger — no win, no fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Kenya Airways covered by EU261?
Only when departing from an EU/UK airport. Kenya Airways (KQ) is Kenyan, not EU-registered. The regulation has two triggers: (1) any flight departing an EU/UK airport (any carrier) OR (2) flight to EU/UK on an EU/UK carrier. Kenya Airways triggers #1 only — Amsterdam → Nairobi, Paris → Nairobi, London → Nairobi are all covered. The reverse (Nairobi → EU/UK) is NOT covered because KQ is non-EU.
Which European cities does Kenya Airways serve?
As of 2026: Amsterdam (AMS, daily, via SkyTeam JV with KLM), Paris (CDG, daily), London Heathrow (LHR, daily). All three EU/UK departures qualify for EU261/UK261 protection. The Amsterdam route is operated jointly with KLM in the SkyTeam JV — check operating carrier on your booking.
Why is the return flight not covered?
EU Regulation 261/2004 protects passengers when (1) departing the EU/UK from any airline, OR (2) arriving in the EU/UK on an EU/UK-registered airline. A return flight Nairobi → Amsterdam on Kenya Airways triggers neither: it doesn't depart from EU/UK, and KQ is not EU-registered. UK261 has the same logic for UK arrivals.
How much for a Kenya Airways delay from EU/UK?
€600 / £520 long-haul. All KQ-served EU/UK departures are over 3,500 km: Amsterdam-Nairobi ~6,650 km, Paris-Nairobi ~6,500 km, London-Nairobi ~6,800 km. Family of four: €2,400 / £2,080. Reduced by 50% if rerouted within 4 hours of original arrival.
How to file a Kenya Airways EU261 claim?
File at kenya-airways.com — 'EU261 compensation' or contact form. Cite EU Regulation 261/2004, the 3+ hour arrival delay, and the EU/UK departure airport. Wait 4-8 weeks. If rejected, escalate to the NEB of the departure country: Netherlands ILT, France DGAC, UK CAA + CEDR. Or use a no-win-no-fee service like ClaimWinger to handle it.
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