EU261 and Ground Stops: When You Actually Qualify
EU261 applies to flights departing the EU or UK, and to flights arriving there on an EU or UK carrier. A ground stop ordered by air traffic control is usually an extraordinary circumstance, so cash compensation is often refused — but assistance and refunds still apply.
Does EU261 cover your flight?
| Itinerary | EU261 applies? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Departing an EU airport, any airline | Yes | The regulation applies to the departure point |
| Departing the UK, any airline | Yes, under UK261 | Retained version of the same rules |
| Arriving in the EU on an EU carrier | Yes | Carrier nationality extends the scope |
| Arriving in the EU on a non-EU carrier | No | No EU departure point and no EU carrier |
| US domestic flight | No | Neither endpoint is in the EU or UK |
What the compensation is
| Distance | Compensation | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | Amsterdam to London |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | Madrid to Istanbul |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | Paris to New York |
Three conditions must all be met: the flight arrives at least three hours late, the cause is not an extraordinary circumstance, and the passenger had a confirmed booking and checked in on time. A ground stop affects the second condition.
The extraordinary circumstances test
European courts have been consistent: air traffic management decisions that are outside the airline's control can be extraordinary circumstances. A ground stop issued because of weather, a system failure or a security event is normally outside airline control. That removes the fixed cash payment, but it does not remove the airline's duty of care.
- Still required: meals, refreshments, communication, and hotel plus transfers for an overnight stay.
- Still required: reimbursement or re-routing to the final destination.
- Not required: the €250–600 fixed payment, if the airline can evidence the restriction.
- Not automatic: the airline must prove the circumstance was unavoidable, even if it was extraordinary.
How to file
- Confirm the arrival delay using the flight number and the actual landing time, not the departure delay.
- Submit a written claim to the operating airline within the national time limit.
- Include booking reference, boarding pass, and evidence of the cause if you have it.
- If rejected, escalate to the national enforcement body for the departure country.
- Use the EU's official complaint form to find that body.
Sources
FAQ
Do I get EU261 for a US ground stop?
Only if your flight departed the EU or UK, or arrived there on an EU or UK carrier, and only if the airline cannot rely on extraordinary circumstances.
Is a ground stop an extraordinary circumstance?
Usually yes, when it is an air traffic restriction outside the airline's control. The airline must still prove it.
What if I am stranded overnight?
Duty of care applies regardless of the cause: hotel, meals and transport should be arranged by the airline.
Can I claim for a connection missed because of a stop?
If the whole journey was under one booking and the final arrival was three hours late, you may claim, subject to the same cause test.