Had a Aer Lingus flight delayed or cancelled? Here is how to claim.
This guide explains who Aer Lingus is, how they usually answer claims, what your rights are, and how to send Aer Lingus a proper letter by Royal Mail.
About Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is the national airline of the Republic of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish words "aerloingeas", meaning "air fleet". The airline was started in 1936 by the Irish Government, making it one of the oldest airlines still flying today. The head office is at Dublin Airport. The famous symbol is a green shamrock on the tail of every plane. Aer Lingus flies a fleet of Airbus aircraft, mostly the A320 family for short-haul and the A321LR (and soon the new A321XLR) for transatlantic routes.
Aer Lingus is owned by IAG (International Airlines Group). IAG also owns British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. So Aer Lingus is the "sister" airline of British Airways. IAG bought Aer Lingus in 2015 for €1.36 billion. IAG is registered in Spain and listed on the London and Madrid stock exchanges. Even though Aer Lingus and BA share a parent, they handle complaints very differently, as explained below.
From the UK, Aer Lingus flies many routes to Dublin from places like Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and others. From Dublin, the airline operates onward flights to North America (Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington), Europe and beyond. One unique feature of flying Aer Lingus transatlantic is the US Pre-Clearance facility at Dublin Airport. This means you go through American immigration and customs IN Dublin BEFORE you fly, then arrive in the US as a domestic passenger. No US carriers other than Aer Lingus offer this from outside the US/Canada.
Registered office
Aer Lingus LimitedHangar 6, Dublin Airport
Dublin
K67 W9PZ
Republic of Ireland
UK Companies House overseas company number: FC003748 · Irish Companies Registration Office number: 9215 · Incorporated in Ireland: 1936 · Parent group: International Airlines Group (IAG) — 98.05% shareholder · Regulator: Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), CAA for UK consumer matters · IATA / ICAO codes: EI / EIN
Group structure
International Airlines Group (IAG) — parent
This is the holding company. It owns British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus, plus the low-cost long-haul brand LEVEL. IAG is registered in Spain and listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker IAG) and the Spanish Stock Exchange. The corporate head office is in London. Aer Lingus became part of IAG in September 2015 after a £1 billion takeover bid that needed Irish government approval (because the Irish government owned 25% of the shares at the time).
Spanish-registered. LSE ticker IAG.Aer Lingus Limited (the main airline)
This is the original Irish airline, registered in Dublin. It runs the main fleet and operates almost all of the flights you book on aerlingus.com from UK airports to Dublin. Companies House records this as an overseas company (number FC003748), with the parent registry in Ireland. If you need to take Aer Lingus to court for a flight on this airline, this is the legal entity to name.
Irish Reg 9215. UK Companies House FC003748.Aer Lingus (U.K.) Limited — the closed UK subsidiary
This was a separate UK airline set up to run flights from Manchester to North America (New York JFK, Orlando, Boston) and Manchester to Barbados. It was registered in Northern Ireland (Companies House NI612895, Belfast) and held its own UK Air Operator's Certificate (GB 2471). The airline started flying on 20 October 2021 and CEASED OPERATIONS on 31 March 2026. So if you have an Aer Lingus UK flight from before 31 March 2026, your claim is still valid against this company. It is still on the Companies House register.
Companies House NI612895. UK AOC GB 2471. Stopped flying 31 March 2026.Aer Lingus Regional (run by Emerald Airlines)
Aer Lingus Regional is a brand. The flights are sold on aerlingus.com but they are NOT operated by Aer Lingus itself. They are operated by a separate Irish company called Emerald Airlines, on a franchise deal. Emerald operates ATR turboprop aircraft and the contract was signed in 2021 to last 10 years. If your flight number was EI (with 3 or 4 digits) and the plane was a small turboprop, it was an Emerald-operated flight. The UK261 claim goes against the OPERATING airline (Emerald), not Aer Lingus.
What a Aer Lingus reply usually looks like
- 1An automated email saying Aer Lingus has got your claim through the EU261 form at aerlingus.com.
- 2A first response within about 6 weeks. Aer Lingus is slower than the European norm for complaints handling.
- 3A rejection on "extraordinary circumstances" grounds. The reasons given are often vague: weather, ATC, security.
- 4An offer of AerClub Avios (the loyalty programme points) or a travel credit instead of cash. You do not have to take these. UK261 entitles you to cash.
- 5A claim that the flight was actually operated by Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional) or another partner, and that you should claim from that operator instead. This is sometimes correct, depending on the flight.
- 6A final response or silence past 8 weeks. Unlike sister airline British Airways (which uses CEDR), Aer Lingus is NOT a member of any ADR scheme. So after a final no, your only routes are PACT or the small claims court.
How much can you claim from Aer Lingus under UK261?
Compensation amounts are fixed by flight distance and apply to delays of three hours or more at the final destination, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, and denied boarding. The flight distance is the “great circle distance” between the departure and arrival airports, not the route flown.
| Flight distance | Delay length | Amount per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. London to Dublin) | 3 hours or more | £220 |
| 1,500 km to 3,500 km (e.g. London to Athens) | 3 hours or more | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. London to New York) | 3 to 4 hours | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km | 4 hours or more | £520 |
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority, UK261 compensation guidance.
Your rights
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 5 (cancellations)
Did Aer Lingus cancel your flight less than 14 days before take-off? You have two choices. Get your money back. Or ask Aer Lingus to put you on a different flight. The choice is yours, not theirs. On top of that, you can usually get cash too. How much cash depends on how far you were flying.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 6 and the Sturgeon ruling
What if your flight was just late, not cancelled? Article 6 covers delays. In 2009, a court case called Sturgeon said that any delay of 3 hours or more should be paid out, the same as a cancellation. The UK kept this rule after Brexit. Aer Lingus is an Irish (EU) airline, so the EU version of the rule (EC261) also applies to many Aer Lingus flights. The amounts are nearly identical in pounds and euros.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (compensation amounts)
This is the rule that sets the cash amount. The four amounts are £220, £350, £260 and £520 per passenger. Which one you get depends on how far the flight was and how late you arrived. Aer Lingus cannot pay you less just because your ticket was cheap.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Articles 8 and 9 (refund and care)
On top of the cash, two other rules look after you. Article 8 lets you pick between a refund or a new flight. Article 9 says Aer Lingus has to look after you while you wait. That means free food, free drinks, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel if you have to stay overnight. If you had to pay for any of this yourself, keep the receipts and claim them back.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 5(3) (the "extraordinary circumstances" rule)
Aer Lingus can get out of paying only if BOTH of these are true. One, the cause was outside their control. Two, they could not have stopped it even if they tried hard. Things that DO count are bad weather, war, real security alerts, and air traffic control strikes. Things that DO NOT count are Aer Lingus's own staff going on strike, a normal aircraft fault, or crew illness (after the 2024 Lipton ruling).
Why UK261 covers both directions of your Aer Lingus flight
Aer Lingus is an Irish (EU) airline, so UK261 covers it in BOTH directions. If your flight took off from the UK, UK261 applies. If your flight took off from Dublin (or anywhere else) AND landed in the UK, UK261 ALSO applies because Aer Lingus is an EU carrier flying into the UK. This is different from a non-UK/non-EU carrier like Emirates, which only counts for UK departures.
Limitation Act 1980, section 9
How long do you have to claim? In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you have 6 years from the date of the flight. In Scotland, you have 5 years. A 2014 court case called Dawson v Thomson Airways made this clear. Because Aer Lingus has no ADR scheme, this 6-year court window is your main backstop. Do not leave it too long.
Common Aer Lingus situations
Your UK-Dublin flight was delayed
This is the most common Aer Lingus situation for UK passengers. UK to Dublin is well under 1,500 km, so the compensation amount under Article 7 is £220 per passenger. A family of four on a delayed Dublin-bound flight from Manchester can claim £880. Aer Lingus often blames air traffic control or weather. Demand specific evidence if you suspect the real cause was their own delay.
You had an Aer Lingus UK flight before 31 March 2026
The UK subsidiary (Aer Lingus (U.K.) Limited) stopped flying on 31 March 2026, but the legal entity is still on the Companies House register. So if your Manchester-to-Boston, Manchester-to-JFK, Manchester-to-Orlando or Manchester-to-Barbados flight from before that date was delayed or cancelled, you can still claim. Your legal entity is "Aer Lingus (U.K.) Limited" (Companies House NI612895), based at Victoria House, 15-17 Gloucester Street, Belfast BT1 4LS.
Your flight was operated by Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional)
Aer Lingus Regional flights are sold under the Aer Lingus EI flight code but operated by Emerald Airlines. The UK261 claim goes against the OPERATING carrier, not the selling carrier. So if your flight was an Emerald-operated turboprop (ATR 42/72), you claim against Emerald Airlines Limited. Emerald is based at Dublin Airport and has its own customer service. Aer Lingus will usually point you to Emerald and refuse to handle the claim themselves.
Your transatlantic Aer Lingus flight was delayed
For Dublin or Manchester to North America routes (over 3,500 km), the amount is £260 (3 to 4 hours late) or £520 (4 hours or more late). A family of four on a 5-hour late JFK flight can claim £2,080. Aer Lingus offers US Pre-Clearance at Dublin, which means problems with the pre-clearance facility can also cause delays. Pre-clearance issues caused by US authorities are usually extraordinary circumstances, but if Aer Lingus caused the problem itself, they have to pay.
Aer Lingus offered you AerClub Avios or a travel credit
AerClub Avios (frequent flyer points) and travel credits are NOT cash. The law (Article 7) gives you the right to cash. Write back and ask for cash to your bank account. Quote Article 7 of UK261. If Aer Lingus still refuses, your route is PACT or court (there is no AviationADR escalation for Aer Lingus).
Aer Lingus rejected your claim and you cannot use an ADR scheme
Aer Lingus is not in AviationADR or CEDR. Confirmed by Aer Lingus's own website. Your options are: complain to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT), or sue Aer Lingus in the small claims court using Money Claim Online. The CAA does monitor Aer Lingus and added them to a public list back in 2018 of airlines refusing ADR. If your case is strong and Aer Lingus still says no, court is usually the more effective route.
Your flight was on a connecting itinerary to North America via Dublin
Aer Lingus sells a lot of "one ticket" itineraries from UK airports to North America via Dublin. If your UK-to-Dublin leg was delayed and made you miss the connecting Dublin-to-North America flight, UK261 covers the WHOLE journey based on the total distance to your final destination (a 2013 court case called Folkerts confirmed this). So if you arrived in Boston 4 hours late because of a delayed Manchester-to-Dublin first leg, you can claim £520 per passenger, not just £220.
Send your Aer Lingus claim letter via Royal Mail
PostRight writes your UK261 claim letter for you. Answer a few simple questions. Check the letter. Pay. We print it and post it by Royal Mail the next working day. A real letter is much harder for Ryanair to ignore than an online form.
- ✓Quotes the right part of UK Regulation 261/2004 for your situation
- ✓States the exact cash amount you are owed under Article 7
- ✓Names the correct operating airline (Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus UK, or Emerald)
- ✓Pushes back if Aer Lingus has used the "extraordinary circumstances" excuse
- ✓Gives Aer Lingus a clear 14-day deadline to reply
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Frequently asked questions
How much can I claim from Aer Lingus?
It depends on how far the flight was and how late you arrived. For UK to Dublin flights (under 1,500 km), it is £220 per passenger. For UK to longer European routes, it is £350. For transatlantic routes from Dublin or formerly Manchester (over 3,500 km), it is £260 if you arrived 3 to 4 hours late, or £520 if you arrived 4 hours or more late. A family of four on a delayed UK-to-Dublin flight can claim £880. A family of four on a delayed transatlantic flight can claim up to £2,080.
Is Aer Lingus a member of an ADR scheme like AviationADR or CEDR?
No. Aer Lingus is not currently in any approved ADR scheme. This is confirmed on Aer Lingus's own website. They were singled out by the CAA back in December 2017 (along with Jet2 and Emirates) for refusing to join, and they still have not joined. If Aer Lingus rejects your claim, your only routes are: complain to the CAA's PACT team, or sue Aer Lingus in the small claims court.
I flew Aer Lingus UK from Manchester to Boston before March 2026. Can I still claim?
Yes. Aer Lingus (U.K.) Limited stopped flying on 31 March 2026 but the legal entity is still on the Companies House register (NI612895). Your claim for any flight before that date is still valid. The legal address is Victoria House, 15-17 Gloucester Street, Belfast BT1 4LS. UK261 limits the claim window to 6 years from the date of the flight (5 in Scotland), so make sure you do not leave it too long.
My flight number was EI but the plane was a small turboprop. Who do I claim from?
That flight was operated by Emerald Airlines under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. Aer Lingus sells the ticket but Emerald operates the flight. UK261 claims go against the OPERATING carrier, so you claim against Emerald Airlines Limited, based at Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus will usually refuse to handle the claim themselves and point you to Emerald.
Aer Lingus is owned by IAG (same as BA). Does that change anything?
For your basic UK261 rights, no — the rights are the same. But the ESCALATION route is very different. British Airways is a member of CEDR, so BA passengers can use CEDR for free. Aer Lingus is NOT in any ADR scheme, so Aer Lingus passengers can only use PACT or court. This is despite both airlines having the same parent. IAG has not pushed Aer Lingus to join an ADR scheme.
My flight was from Dublin to the UK. Does UK261 apply?
Yes. Aer Lingus is an Irish (EU) airline, so UK261 covers Aer Lingus flights into the UK as well as out. The same Article 7 amounts apply. (For comparison, UK261 does NOT cover non-UK/EU airlines like Emirates on flights INTO the UK. The carrier nationality matters.) The EU version (EC261) also applies to Aer Lingus flights INTO the EU.
What if Aer Lingus offers me AerClub points?
You do not have to take points. The law gives you the right to cash, not loyalty points. Write back and ask for cash to your bank account. Quote Article 7. If Aer Lingus refuses, your routes are PACT or court.
How long do I have to claim from Aer Lingus?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you have 6 years from the date of the flight. In Scotland, you have 5 years. A 2014 court case called Dawson v Thomson Airways made this clear. Because Aer Lingus has no ADR scheme, the court is your main backstop, so this 6-year window matters.
Free help and what to do next
CAA Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT)
The UK's flying regulator's complaints team. PACT is the main escalation route for Aer Lingus claims because Aer Lingus is not in an ADR scheme. PACT cannot force Aer Lingus to pay but they can pressure the airline. Free to use.
Visit website →Irish Aviation Authority / Commission for Aviation Regulation (Ireland)
For Aer Lingus flights that depart from Ireland (not the UK), the Irish regulator handles complaints. They enforce EC261 against Aer Lingus directly.
Visit website →Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Free, independent advice on UK261 and your rights as a passenger. Helpline: 0808 223 1133.
Visit website →Money Claim Online (MCOL)
The online court service for England and Wales. Because Aer Lingus has no ADR scheme, the small claims court is the main backstop for unpaid valid claims. You have 6 years from the date of the flight to sue (5 in Scotland). Aer Lingus does respond to court claims served at their UK overseas company address.
Visit website →Ready to claim from Aer Lingus?
PostRight prints and posts your UK261 claim letter via Royal Mail. Tracked 24 is available for £9.99 if you want proof of delivery. From £2.79.
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