Flight delay compensation in Portugal
You are covered by EC 261
Portugal is in the EU or EEA, which means any flight departing from it is covered — whichever airline you fly, including non-European ones. This is one of the few places in the world where a delay can be worth cash rather than a refund.
What triggers a payment
- Arrival delay of three hours or more
- Cancellation with less than fourteen days' notice
- Being denied boarding on an overbooked flight
How much
Fixed by distance, not by ticket price: roughly €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 beyond that. A cheap ticket on a long flight is worth the same as an expensive one.
When it is not payable
"Extraordinary circumstances" — which in practice covers most weather, air traffic control strikes, and security incidents. It does not cover crew shortages, most technical faults, or an aircraft arriving late from an earlier leg, all of which are the airline's own problem and therefore payable.
How to claim
Ask the airline directly first, in writing, with your booking reference and the actual arrival time. Almost every valid claim is settled at this stage. Claim companies take a quarter to a third, and are worth considering only after an airline has refused a claim you believe is good.
Which airlines cancel most on Portugal departures
Cancellation is the event that triggers a claim, so this is the number worth knowing before you book. January 2025 – August 2026.
| Airline | Flights | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 1,286 | 2.72% |
| easyJet | 4,875 | 0.7% |
| easyJet Europe | 566 | 5.83% |
| Ryanair | 4,632 | 0.41% |
| Jet2 | 2,458 | 0.69% |
| TAP Air Portugal | 441 | 1.59% |
| Ryanair UK | 221 | 0.45% |
| TUI Airways | 202 | 0% |
| BA Euroflyer | 824 | 0% |
This page explains published rules and is not legal advice. Confirm current thresholds with the relevant regulator before relying on them. The full guide →