Passengers across the UK are being reminded of their crucial air travel rights following significant disruption at Edinburgh Airport. An IT failure on Friday morning led to a temporary suspension of all flights, causing ongoing delays and cancellations. The incident underscores the importance of understanding exactly what airlines owe you when travel plans go awry.
What Are Your Basic Rights During Delays?
For journeys departing from the UK, EU, or wider European Economic Area (EEA), robust European air passenger rights apply. These regulations are designed to hold airlines accountable, mandating specific care and compensation when flights are cancelled or face substantial delays.
The duty of care obliges airlines to provide refreshments and accommodation depending on the length of the wait. The trigger points are:
- Short flights (under 1,500km): Refreshments after a two-hour delay.
- Mid-haul journeys (1,500-3,500km): Refreshments after three hours.
- Long-haul trips: Refreshments after four hours.
If an overnight delay occurs, the carrier must provide and pay for hotel accommodation. In practice, many airlines ask passengers to book their own and reclaim costs later—a method authorities often tolerate despite not fully complying with the rules.
When Are You Owed Cash Compensation?
Beyond care, you may be entitled to a significant cash payout. This applies if you are flying from a UK/EU airport, or with a British or European airline, and your flight is cancelled or you arrive at your final destination at least three hours late.
The compensation amounts are fixed based on distance:
- Flights under 1,500km (e.g., London to Barcelona): £220.
- Flights of 1,500-3,500km (e.g., Manchester to Lisbon): £350.
- Flights over 3,500km (e.g., Birmingham to Dubai): £520 (halved for long-haul delays of 3-4 hours).
Airlines can only refuse payment by proving "extraordinary circumstances" were to blame. Crucially, technical faults with the aircraft are not considered extraordinary; they are viewed as part of the airline's normal operational risk. The definition covers events like political instability, extreme weather, security risks, and certain unsanctioned strikes.
How to Claim and What If You're Refused?
Each airline should provide an online claims form, though they can be difficult to locate. For major carriers like British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, dedicated claim pages exist. Compensation must be paid via bank transfer or cheque, unless you voluntarily agree to accept travel vouchers, which sometimes come with a value uplift.
If a valid claim is rejected, you can escalate. Sending a formal Letter Before Action, threatening court action via Money Claim Online, often prompts a response. Since Brexit, UK travellers no longer have access to the European Small Claims Procedure for EU-originating flights. Some turn to claims management firms like AirHelp, but they typically take 35-50% of any payout as a fee.
For flights on non-EU/UK carriers from outside Europe, these EU regulations do not apply. In such cases, your only recourse may be through your travel insurance policy.
The disruption at Edinburgh Airport serves as a timely reminder: knowing your rights is the first step to securing what you are legally owed when air travel fails to deliver.
