UK261 after Brexit: what changed for passengers
How British rules differ from the European regime, the amounts in pounds, and which regulation applies to your route.
After the UK left the EU, the European regulation was carried into domestic law as UK261. The substance is close to identical, but there are differences worth knowing before you file.
The amounts are in pounds
UK261 fixes compensation at £220 for flights up to 1,500 km, £350 for 1,500–3,500 km and £520 beyond 3,500 km. Because these are fixed sums rather than converted euros, the value drifts against EU261 as exchange rates move — sometimes in your favour, sometimes not.
Which regime covers your flight
- Departing a UK airport — UK261, on any airline
- Departing an EU airport — EU261, on any airline, including flights into the UK
- Into the UK from a third country — UK261 only if the carrier is UK or EU registered
London–Madrid on British Airways falls under UK261. Madrid–London on the same airline falls under EU261. The route decides, not the carrier.
Where to escalate
Complaints about UK departures go to the Civil Aviation Authority or an approved ADR scheme, not to an EU national enforcement body. Carriers taking part in an ADR scheme are bound by its decision.
Limitation periods
In England and Wales the limitation period is six years, in Scotland five — noticeably longer than in most EU states, where two to three years is typical. It is genuinely worth checking old flights from UK airports.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic
Both carriers ceased to be EU-registered after Brexit. In practice that means a flight from Dubai to London on British Airways is not covered by EU261 — while the same route into Frankfurt on Lufthansa would be.
The fee is deducted only from the compensation recovered. No payout — no fee.