Turkish Airlines EU261 Compensation: How to Claim

Does EU261 apply to Turkish Airlines?

EU261 applies to Turkish Airlines on ALL flights departing from EU airports. Turkish Airlines (THY) is a Turkish carrier — not an EU-registered airline. EU261 covers all carriers on EU departures and all EU carriers regardless of departure point. So: Paris CDG → Istanbul on Turkish Airlines → EU261 applies. Istanbul → Paris on Turkish Airlines → EU261 does NOT apply (Turkish carrier, non-EU departure). For UK departures, UK261 applies instead (£350 medium-haul).

How much compensation for a Turkish Airlines delay from Europe?

EU261/UK261 compensation for Turkish Airlines delays from Europe depends on distance: €250/£220 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400/£350 for 1,500–3,500 km (most EU–Istanbul routes), and €600/£520 for flights over 3,500 km. Most EU–Istanbul routes are approximately 1,370–2,750 km — medium-haul at €400. A 3+ hour arrival delay or cancellation within 14 days triggers the compensation claim.

Turkish Airlines rejected my EU261 claim — what should I do?

Turkish Airlines commonly cites 'extraordinary circumstances' (weather, ATC, technical issues) to reject EU261 claims. If rejected: (1) Check if the delay reason is genuinely extraordinary under EU261 — technical faults are NOT extraordinary per the CJEU Wallentin-Hermann ruling. (2) Escalate to the national enforcement body in the country of departure: LBA/SÖP in Germany, DGAC/Médiateur in France, AESA in Spain, ENAC in Italy, CAA in UK. (3) Consider using a claim service if the airline continues to refuse.

My Turkish Airlines connecting flight caused me to miss an onward flight — am I covered?

It depends on the booking structure. If you booked both legs as a single ticket with Turkish Airlines (one reservation, one booking reference), you are covered under EU261 for the final destination delay — compensation is based on the total journey distance from the EU departure to the final destination. If you had separate tickets (two independent bookings), EU261 only covers the individually delayed leg, not the missed connection consequences.

Does EU261 apply to SunExpress, which is partly owned by Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines?

SunExpress is a Turkish carrier — it is registered in Turkey, not the EU, despite being a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. As a Turkish carrier, EU261 applies to SunExpress only on EU departures (same as Turkish Airlines). SunExpress departures from Istanbul or Antalya to Europe are NOT covered by EU261. The carrier nationality (Turkey) determines the rule, not ownership.