If your Qatar Airways flight was delayed by more than 3 hours or cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, you may be owed €250 to €600 — regardless of what the ticket cost.
Updated 23 September 2026 · FlightFund editorial team
Qatar Airways is not registered in the EU. The regulation only applies to flights departing from an EU/EEA airport. The reverse direction is not covered.
Country of registration: Qatar. Main hubs: Doha.
A Qatari carrier with a large transit programme. On a single ticket with a Doha connection the delay counts at the final destination, but the entitlement arises only if the first leg departed an EU airport.
| Flight distance | Delay 3–4 hours | Delay 4+ hours or cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | €250 | €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | €400 | €400 |
| over 3,500 km | €300 | €600 |
Full table: UK261 amounts, real routes and the 50% reduction rule →
Paid per passenger holding a separate ticket, children included
Qatar does not apply EU261. EU compensation is available only for flights departing from an EU airport. Otherwise the Montreal Convention applies, covering proven damages but not fixed compensation.
Only “extraordinary circumstances” release a carrier: dangerous weather, air traffic control strikes, airspace closures, security requirements, bird strikes.
These do not and compensation remains due: aircraft technical faults, strikes by the airline’s own staff, scheduling problems, late crew, overbooking.
According to the AirHelp report, roughly 52% of rejections turn out to be unjustified — carriers most often cite weather where the real cause was a technical fault. Court of Justice case law on refusals.
What to write if Qatar Airways refuses anyway: 15 refusal wordings analysed →
The fee is deducted only from the compensation recovered. No payout — no fee.
The period depends on the jurisdiction where the carrier is registered. For flights from the EU, follow the law of the country of departure.
At arrival — from the moment the aircraft door opens at the final destination (Court of Justice, C-452/13).
Yes, the amount depends only on flight distance, not on the fare.
A refusal is not the final word. According to AirHelp, 52% of rejections turn out to be unjustified. Ask the airline to state the exact cause in writing and to document it, then escalate to the national enforcement body of the carrier's country of registration.