Saudia 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 Saudia flights are covered

Saudia is registered in Saudi Arabia — 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 Saudi Arabia or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Saudia 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 Saudia routes

Computed by our rules engine, assuming cancelled with 3 days’ notice, not re-routed.
Route	Distance	Rules	Per passenger
London (LHR) → Jeddah (JED)	4,748 km	UK261	£520
Jeddah (JED) → London (LHR)	4,748 km	—	Not covered
Paris (CDG) → Jeddah (JED)	4,427 km	EU261	€600
Jeddah (JED) → Paris (CDG)	4,427 km	—	Not covered

Notice the asymmetry: the same route pays in one direction and not the other, because Saudia is not a UK or EU airline and only departures from Europe are protected.

What Saudia 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 Saudia

Not an EU or UK carrier, so only departures from London, Manchester, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid and other European airports are covered.
Europe to Jeddah or Riyadh is over 3,500 km, so covered claims are £520 or €600.
Seasonal pilgrimage traffic produces heavy schedule pressure at certain times of year, and the resulting delays are operational rather than extraordinary.
Expect slow correspondence, and plan to escalate to the enforcement body in your European departure country once the 14 days in your letter have passed.

Check it free, then send the letter yourself.

If your Saudia cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Saudia’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.

Saudia cancellation: common questions

How much can I claim from Saudia 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 Saudia’s routes.

Saudia 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 Saudia 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 Saudia 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.