Air India cancellation compensation
Compensation 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). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which Air India flights are covered
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.
Worked examples on Air India routes
| 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 |
Notice the asymmetry: the same route pays in one direction and not the other, because Air India is not a UK or EU airline and only departures from Europe are protected.
What Air India is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to Air India
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.
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Air India cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Air India’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. 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 cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from Air India for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Air India’s routes.
Air India cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does Air India give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Air India cancellation claim?
It depends on where you bring the claim, usually where the flight departed or arrived. Six years in England and Wales; two to five years in most EU countries.
Other Air India claims
- 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.