Whether EU261 covers a flight outside Europe depends on two things: where you depart from and which airline operates the flight. Departing from an EU airport, you are covered with any airline; flying into the EU from outside, only if the airline is European. With an arrival delay of more than 3 hours you are owed €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, unless there were extraordinary circumstances.
Free 2-minute check · Nothing to pay upfront · You only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated
EU261 for flights outside Europe and non-EU airlines: the rule in one table
Regulation (EC) 261/2004 does not care about your nationality or where you bought the ticket: what counts is the departure airport and the airline that actually operates the flight.
| Flight | European airline | Non-EU airline |
|---|---|---|
| From the EU to a non-EU country (Dublin–Istanbul, Dublin–Marrakech) | Covered | Covered |
| From a non-EU country into the EU (Istanbul–Dublin, Marrakech–Dublin) | Covered | Not covered |
| Between two non-EU countries (London–Istanbul) | Not covered, unless it is one leg of a trip that started in the EU on a single booking | Not covered, with the same exception |
The amounts are the same as for European flights: €250 up to 1,500 km, such as Dublin–London; €400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, such as Dublin–Marrakech or Dublin–Istanbul; €600 over 3,500 km. For long-haul trips to other continents, see our guide to intercontinental travel.
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the outermost regions count as EU
The Regulation also applies at airports in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, thanks to their agreements with the EU. A Dublin–Geneva or Oslo–Dublin flight is treated as a European flight, and airlines licensed in these countries count as European airlines.
The outermost regions are fully part of the EU too: the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, RĂ©union, Mayotte and Saint-Martin. Overseas countries and territories linked to some Member States, such as French Polynesia or Aruba, are outside the EU for the Regulation.
Flights between the UK and the EU after Brexit
Since 2021 the United Kingdom has been a non-EU country for EU261. For Dublin–London (€250) the table above applies:
- Dublin–London: covered by EU261 with any airline, because you depart from the EU.
- London–Dublin: covered by EU261 only if the airline is European.
Flights departing from the UK are also covered by a UK law with similar rules, enforced by the UK authorities. If you flew out of the UK with a non-EU airline, that UK regime is the route to follow, not EU261.
Turkey, Morocco, Egypt: watch the return flight
On short and medium-haul trips outside the EU, problems usually arise on the way home. Flying out of Dublin, Cork or Shannon, you are covered with any airline; on the return, only if you fly with a European airline. If the plane belongs to a Turkish, Moroccan or Egyptian airline, EU261 does not apply to the flight back: only the rules of the departure country and the airline's own conditions remain.
The same goes for package holidays: a charter flight counts for the airline that operates it, not for the tour operator that sells it.
How to tell whether the airline is European
For EU261, a European airline is one licensed by an EU Member State (or by Switzerland, Norway or Iceland). What matters is who operates the flight, not who sells it: on codeshare flights, look for "operated by" on your boarding pass. If you travel on several flights booked separately, each flight is assessed on its own, as explained in our guide to connecting flights with different airlines.
- Check the departure airport: EU, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland? Then you are covered.
- If you departed from outside, read "operated by" and check where the airline is based.
- Measure the delay on arrival, when at least one aircraft door opens: you need more than 3 hours. Details are in our guide on how the delay is calculated.
- Work out the distance with the compensation calculator.
- Keep your boarding pass and booking: they are the main evidence.
Where to complain about a flight outside the EU
Your claim goes to the airline first. If it does not reply or rejects it, for flights departing from Ireland the Aviation Regulator is the competent body; for flights arriving from a non-EU country with a European airline, the authority of the country of arrival. All the authorities are listed in our guide to national enforcement bodies.
With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether your flight is covered: enter your details on the flight delay compensation page and we handle the claim, the reminders and, if needed, court action, including against non-EU airlines on flights departing from the EU. Nothing to pay upfront: you only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated.
Frequently asked questions about EU261 outside Europe
Does a Turkish airline owe me compensation for a delayed Dublin–Istanbul flight?
Yes, if you arrive more than 3 hours late and there were no extraordinary circumstances: the flight departs from the EU, so the airline's nationality does not matter.
What about the return Istanbul–Dublin with the same airline?
No. On flights into the EU from outside, EU261 only applies if the airline is European.
Is a flight to the Canary Islands or Madeira a non-EU flight?
No. The Canaries, Madeira and the Azores are part of the EU: you are covered in both directions with any airline.
Is a Geneva–Dublin flight with a Swiss airline covered?
Yes. Switzerland applies the EU Regulation and its airlines count as European.
I bought my ticket on a US website: does that change anything?
No. What counts is the departure airport and the operating airline, not the website or the currency you paid in.
Work out your compensation now
Enter where you flew from and to: in 2 minutes you will know whether you are owed compensation and how much.
- Free check, no commitment
- No upfront costs: 25% + VAT only if we win
- We deal with the airline for you
Find out more
- Air passenger rights
- Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
- Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
- Overbooking: what you are owed
- What our service costs
Article updated on 13/11/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.