Had a easyJet flight delayed or cancelled? Here is how to claim.
This guide explains who easyJet is, how they usually answer claims, what your rights are, and how to send easyJet a proper letter by Royal Mail.
About easyJet
easyJet is one of the biggest cheap airlines in Europe. They started in 1995 in a small office at London Luton Airport. Their founder is a Greek-Cypriot businessman called Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. easyJet uses only Airbus A320 family planes (the A319, A320 and A321). Their orange and white planes are a common sight at UK airports.
The UK part of easyJet is called easyJet Airline Company Limited. It is based at Hangar 89 at London Luton Airport. easyJet is one of the few airlines that has bases in lots of UK cities. They fly from Luton, Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow and Newcastle. Your flight could also be run by their EU sister company, easyJet Europe Airline GmbH, which is based in Vienna. The Vienna company holds the European flying licence and runs lots of intra-EU flights for the group.
easyJet has a reputation for being a bit more helpful than some other budget airlines. They have an online claims form on their website and they often pay valid claims without much fuss. But they still reject lots of claims at first, usually by blaming "extraordinary circumstances". A proper letter sent by Royal Mail makes your case look serious from day one. It also creates a paper trail you can use later if easyJet stalls or says no.
Registered office
easyJet Airline Company LimitedHangar 89, London Luton Airport
Luton, Bedfordshire
LU2 9PF
United Kingdom
Companies House number: 03034606 · Incorporated: 17 March 1995 · Parent company: easyJet plc (Companies House 03959649) · Regulator: UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) · IATA / ICAO codes: U2 / EZY (easyJet UK); EC / EJU (easyJet Europe)
Group structure
easyJet plc
This is the UK-listed parent company. It owns all the other easyJet airlines and the easyJet brand. easyJet plc shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker EZJ. It is a member of the FTSE 250. If you need to sue easyJet in court in the UK, you do not sue the parent. You sue the operating airline (easyJet Airline Company Limited).
London Stock Exchange ticker EZJ. Companies House 03959649.easyJet Airline Company Limited
This is the original UK airline and the one most British passengers fly on. It has been running since 1995. It holds a UK flying licence from the CAA. You can send legal letters to its Luton head office. Most flights from UK airports are run by easyJet UK, including UK domestic flights.
Companies House 03034606. UK callsign EZY.easyJet Europe Airline GmbH
This is the EU sister company. It was set up in 2017 after the Brexit vote because UK airlines were going to lose the right to fly inside the EU. easyJet Europe is based in Vienna and holds an Austrian flying licence. It runs lots of flights between EU airports under its own callsign (EJU). Your flight to Spain or Italy could be run by either easyJet UK or easyJet Europe.
Vienna-based. Started flying 20 July 2017. Callsign EJU.easyJet Switzerland and easyJet Holidays
The easyJet Group also includes easyJet Switzerland, a Swiss airline that runs flights to and from Geneva and Basel. There is also a separate company called easyJet Holidays Limited that sells package holidays. Your UK261 rights are the same no matter which easyJet airline flies the plane.
What a easyJet reply usually looks like
- 1A confirmation email saying easyJet got your claim through their web form. This usually comes back the same day.
- 2A first reply within a few weeks. easyJet often pays simple, clear claims at this stage. Many people get their money in 4 to 6 weeks.
- 3A rejection if easyJet thinks the delay was "extraordinary circumstances". The email usually names a cause (like a bird strike or air traffic control issue) but rarely gives evidence.
- 4An offer of an easyJet voucher for the value of the compensation. You do not have to take a voucher. Cash is what the law gives you.
- 5A short final response if you push back. This is your trigger to take the case to AviationADR.
- 6Silence past the 8-week mark. easyJet usually replies on time, but if 8 weeks have passed with no real answer, you can go straight to AviationADR.
How much can you claim from easyJet 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 easyJet cancel your flight less than 14 days before take-off? You have two choices. You can get your money back. Or you can ask easyJet 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. The amounts are set in Article 7.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 6 and the Sturgeon ruling
What if your flight was just late, not cancelled? Article 6 covers delays. Then in 2009, a big court case called Sturgeon went further. It 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. easyJet has to follow it.
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. easyJet cannot pay you less just because your ticket was cheap. The amount is fixed by law.
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 easyJet 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. easyJet is meant to give you these things at the airport, but lots of passengers have to pay first and claim it back later. Keep your receipts.
UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 5(3) (the "extraordinary circumstances" rule)
easyJet 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, and air traffic control going on strike. Things that DO NOT count are easyJet's own staff going on strike or a normal aircraft fault. easyJet has to prove the cause. They cannot just send a generic email saying "ATC issue" and walk away.
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. That means you can still claim today for an easyJet flight that was delayed back in 2020.
Common easyJet situations
easyJet said it was extraordinary circumstances
easyJet often blames things like air traffic control delays, weather, or bird strikes. Some of these DO count as extraordinary. Others don't. The law says easyJet has to PROVE the cause was outside their control AND that they could not have stopped it. A vague email is not proof. Write back and ask for the exact cause and the evidence. If easyJet refuses, escalate to AviationADR after 8 weeks.
Your flight was hit by an air traffic control strike
French air traffic control strikes hit easyJet a lot because so many flights cross French airspace. If the strike was by ATC staff (not easyJet's own staff), it usually counts as extraordinary circumstances and easyJet does not have to pay. BUT the airline still has to look after you at the airport (Article 9). Free food, drinks and a hotel if needed. Keep your receipts if easyJet did not give them to you at the time.
easyJet offered you a voucher instead of cash
A voucher is not the same as cash. The law (Article 7) says you can have cash. You can take a voucher if you want, but you do not have to. Write back and say you want the cash payment, not the voucher. Give them your bank details. If easyJet still says no, that is a breach of UK261. Take it to AviationADR.
Your easyJet flight was diverted to another airport
A diversion is treated as a delay. Compensation is worked out based on how late you arrived at your FINAL destination (the airport on your ticket). If easyJet ended up putting you on a coach from the diversion airport to your real destination, that journey time counts towards your total delay. So if you landed at Stansted but were ticketed for Luton, count the time you arrived at Luton, not Stansted.
easyJet has not replied for 8 weeks
8 weeks is the magic number. Once 8 weeks have passed with no proper answer, AviationADR will take your case. Send your demand letter by Royal Mail to start the clock cleanly. Keep your proof of postage. easyJet usually replies before the 8-week mark, but if they don't, that is when you escalate.
Your flight was delayed by a technical fault
A normal fault on the plane does not count as extraordinary. A 2008 court case (Wallentin-Hermann) made this clear. Faults are part of running an airline. The only time a fault counts is if it was caused by something unusual, like a hidden defect from the factory or damage from outside. easyJet has to prove this. They cannot just say "technical issue" and walk away.
You were denied boarding because the flight was full
This is called "denied boarding". It is treated the same as a cancellation under UK261. If easyJet refused to let you on a flight you had a confirmed booking for (and you turned up on time), they owe you cash compensation. The amount is based on the flight distance, the same as for cancellations. easyJet also has to put you on the next available flight, or refund your ticket. Article 4 of UK261 covers this.
Send your easyJet claim letter via Royal Mail
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Frequently asked questions
How much can I claim from easyJet?
It depends on two things. How far the flight was meant to go. And how late you arrived. Most easyJet flights are short trips under 1,500 km. If yours was, and you arrived 3 or more hours late, you can claim £220. If the flight was between 1,500 km and 3,500 km (like London to Athens), you can claim £350. easyJet does not fly really long routes, so the bigger amounts (£260 and £520) rarely apply to easyJet flights. The amount is per person. A family of four on a short flight can claim 4 × £220 = £880. easyJet cannot pay you less just because your ticket was cheap.
What if easyJet says it was extraordinary circumstances?
A generic reply naming a cause is not enough. The law says easyJet has to prove the cause was outside their control AND that they could not have stopped it. Write back and ask for the evidence. Some causes (like a French air traffic control strike or bad weather) usually DO count. Other causes (like easyJet staff strikes or a normal aircraft fault) do NOT count. If easyJet refuses to give details, take the case to AviationADR after 8 weeks.
How long do I have to claim from easyJet?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you have 6 years from the date of the flight. In Scotland, you have 5 years. So a flight that was delayed back in 2020 can still be claimed today in most of the UK. A court case in 2014 (Dawson v Thomson Airways) made this clear. easyJet sometimes points to a shorter limit in their terms and conditions, but the law beats their terms.
I booked easyJet through a travel agent or holiday site. Can I still claim?
Yes. The right to claim belongs to you, the passenger. It does not matter who booked the flight. Send the claim in YOUR name with YOUR contact details. easyJet has to handle it.
What if easyJet offered me a voucher?
You do not have to take a voucher. The law gives you the right to cash, not vouchers. If easyJet has offered you a voucher, write back and ask for the cash instead. Give them your bank details. Quote Article 7 of UK261 if you want to be formal. If easyJet still refuses, take the case to AviationADR.
Is easyJet a member of an ADR scheme?
Yes. easyJet is in AviationADR, which is approved by the CAA. easyJet was originally with a different scheme called CEDR from August 2016 to May 2019. They moved to AviationADR in May 2019. Some older guides on the internet still say easyJet is with CEDR, which is out of date. The current scheme for easyJet is AviationADR.
What happens when I send my case to AviationADR?
AviationADR looks at the evidence from both sides. They make a decision within 90 days of getting all the paperwork. The service is FREE for you. If they rule that easyJet has to pay, easyJet has to pay. The decision is binding. If you do not agree with their decision, you can still go to the small claims court instead. You have to wait 8 weeks from your written complaint to easyJet, or get a final no from them, before AviationADR will take the case.
Is the AviationADR uphold rate as good for easyJet as it used to be at CEDR?
No. A 2022 report to the Transport Select Committee in Parliament showed that easyJet cases at CEDR were upheld 79% of the time on average. After easyJet moved to AviationADR in 2019, the uphold rate dropped to about 51% in the first 18 months. That is one reason why a strong letter to easyJet up front, with clear UK261 references and evidence, matters. The better your case looks before AviationADR sees it, the better your chances.
Free help and what to do next
AviationADR
Free service approved by the CAA. They settle easyJet claims without going to court. Decisions are binding on easyJet. You can use them after 8 weeks of no proper reply. Helpline: 0203 540 8063.
Visit website →CAA Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT)
The UK's flying regulator. PACT does not usually handle individual easyJet claims because easyJet has an ADR scheme. But they do take action against airlines that keep breaking UK261.
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. Use this if easyJet refuses to pay after AviationADR has ruled in your favour. Or use it to sue easyJet directly in the small claims track.
Visit website →Ready to claim from easyJet?
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