Cathay Pacific compensation: how to claim
Cathay Pacific is registered in Hong Kong — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Hong Kong (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- Typical first response
- About 40 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Cathay Pacific is registered in Hong Kong — 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 Hong Kong or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Cathay Pacific 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 Cathay Pacific handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier. London, Manchester, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Milan departures are covered; the returns from Hong Kong are not.
Hong Kong connections onto the rest of Asia and Australia on a single booking are measured at the final destination.
Every Europe–Hong Kong route is well over 3,500 km, so the covered direction is £520 or €600.
They typically respond within about six weeks with a specific operational reason.
What a delay on Cathay Pacific is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Hong Kong (HKG) | 9,631 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Hong Kong (HKG) → London (LHR) | 9,631 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Hong Kong (HKG) | 9,591 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Hong Kong (HKG) → Paris (CDG) | 9,591 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 Cathay Pacific, by what happened
- Cathay Pacific: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Cathay Pacific: 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).
- Cathay Pacific: 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.
- Cathay Pacific: 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 Cathay Pacific flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Cathay Pacific 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.
Cathay Pacific: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Cathay Pacific?
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. Cathay Pacific is registered in Hong Kong — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Cathay Pacific 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 Cathay Pacific?
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 Cathay Pacific?
Cathay Pacific takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Customer Relations, 8/F Cathay House, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Cathay Pacific 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.