airBaltic compensation: how to claim
airBaltic is registered in Latvia, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Latvia (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Riga (RIX), Tallinn (TLL), Vilnius (VNO)
- Typical first response
- About 40 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
airBaltic is registered in Latvia, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because airBaltic is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How airBaltic handles claims
They operate a single aircraft type across three Baltic capitals, which means a technical fault propagates through the day’s rotations. "The aircraft came in late" is not an extraordinary circumstance.
Most routes are under or just over 1,500 km, so €250 and €400 are the usual figures.
airBaltic wet-leases aircraft to other European carriers. If your flight was operated by airBaltic under someone else’s flight number, airBaltic is the operating carrier and owes the compensation.
Latvia applies EU261 in full and responses are generally within about six weeks.
What a delay on airBaltic is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riga (RIX) → Tallinn (TLL) | 281 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Riga (RIX) → Vilnius (VNO) | 268 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Tallinn (TLL) → Vilnius (VNO) | 532 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Riga (RIX) → Paris (CDG) | 1,672 km | EU261 | €400 |
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 airBaltic, by what happened
- airBaltic: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- airBaltic: 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).
- airBaltic: 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.
- airBaltic: 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 airBaltic flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to airBaltic 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.
airBaltic: common questions
How much compensation can I get from airBaltic?
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. airBaltic is registered in Latvia, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does airBaltic 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 airBaltic?
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 airBaltic?
airBaltic takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Air Baltic Corporation AS, Customer Relations, Tehnikas iela 3, Riga Airport, LV-1053, Latvia. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old airBaltic 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.