Air India compensation: how to claim
Air India is registered in India — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- India (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM)
- Typical first response
- About 50 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Air India is registered in India — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from India or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Air India is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Air India handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier, so only departures from London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan and other European airports are covered.
Europe to Delhi or Mumbai is over 3,500 km, so covered claims are £520 or €600.
The airline has been through a change of ownership and a fleet overhaul, and older technical-delay claims can be slow to locate in their records. Quote the flight number and date prominently.
Expect slow responses and be prepared to escalate to the enforcement body in your departure country.
What a delay on Air India is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Delhi (DEL) | 6,732 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Delhi (DEL) → London (LHR) | 6,732 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Delhi (DEL) | 6,566 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Delhi (DEL) → Paris (CDG) | 6,566 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Air India, by what happened
- Air India: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Air India: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Air India: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Air India: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Air India flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Air India yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Air India: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Air India?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Air India is registered in India — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Air India have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Air India?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Air India?
Air India takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Air India Limited, Customer Relations, Airlines House, 113 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, New Delhi 110001, India. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Air India flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.