In short: When Aer Lingus cancels, it offers rebooking, a self-service flight change, or a voucher or cash refund – you are entitled to the cash option. If you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline's control, compensation is €250 / €400 / €600 per passenger (EU261), or £220 / £350 / £520 on flights from the UK (UK261). Claim on Aer Lingus's Flight Disruption Compensation Claim Form. Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Emerald Airlines. Complaints: the Irish Aviation Authority for flights from Ireland, the CAA for flights from Great Britain.
Which rules cover your Aer Lingus flight
Aer Lingus is licensed in Ireland, an EU member state. That gives you broad protection:
| Flight | Rules | Amounts |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin, Cork or Shannon to anywhere | EU261 | €250 / €400 / €600 |
| UK airport to Ireland (e.g. Heathrow–Dublin) | UK261 (departure from the UK) and EU261 (EU airline landing in the EU) – claim once | £220 / £350 / £520 or €250 / €400 / €600 |
| USA or Canada to Ireland (e.g. New York–Dublin) | EU261 – the IAA uses this route as its own example | €600 over 3,500 km |
| Another EU airport (e.g. Faro–Dublin) | EU261 | €250 / €400 / €600 |
A flight from a non-EU airport on a non-EU airline would not be covered on the way into Ireland – which is why the airline operating your flight matters. If your Aer Lingus ticket includes a flight operated by a partner airline, that airline is responsible for that flight.
Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Emerald Airlines (Ireland) Limited, an Irish company. Emerald's website confirms that Aer Lingus Regional passengers may be eligible under EU261 and links to Aer Lingus's EU261 page for details. Under the regulation, the operating carrier is the one responsible (Article 3(5)); if you are passed between the two companies, say so in writing.
When Aer Lingus owes compensation for a cancellation
| When you were told | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more before departure | None – refund or new flight only |
| 7–13 days before | Due, unless the new flight departs no more than 2 h earlier and arrives less than 4 h later |
| Less than 7 days before (or at the airport) | Due, unless the new flight departs no more than 1 h earlier and arrives less than 2 h later |
| Distance | EU261 | UK261 | Aer Lingus examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 | Dublin–Heathrow (about 450 km) |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | £350 | Dublin–Faro (about 1,830 km) |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 | Dublin–New York JFK (about 5,100 km), Dublin–Chicago |
Compensation can be halved if the replacement flight arrives within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original time, depending on distance (Article 7(2)). No compensation is due if the airline proves extraordinary circumstances – but technical problems and a strike by the airline's own staff generally do not count (see technical faults and strikes).
How often Aer Lingus cancelled flights at UK airports in 2025:
- Flights operated
- 70,111
- On time (≤ 15 min late)
- 74.1%
- 3 hours or more late
- 0.65%
- Cancelled
- 2.64%
- Average delay
- 14.0 min
2025, at UK airports
close to the UK average (72.7%)
1 in 154 flights · worse than the UK average
1,901 flights · worse than the UK average
UK average 15.1 min
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority punctuality statistics 2025 – departures and arrivals combined, measured against the schedule at the UK airport. How we use this data
Aer Lingus's options after a cancellation
For bookings made on aerlingus.com or the app, Aer Lingus's Cancellations & Schedule Changes page lists:
- Rebooking on an alternative flight, subject to availability.
- Changing your flight yourself in Manage Trip – not available if your itinerary includes a connecting flight.
- A voucher or a cash refund. Aer Lingus refund vouchers carry the full value of the booking (fare, taxes, seats and bags) and can be used within 5 years; Aer Credit Card and Chase Companion fares are not eligible for vouchers.
- Contacting Aer Lingus if you cannot rebook online or have a connecting flight; if you are already in transit at Dublin, the Flight Connections desk helps.
Booked through a travel agent, online agency or partner airline? Aer Lingus notifies them and you deal with them. Whatever you choose, the legal position is the same: a refund in money within seven days (Article 8), or re-routing – a voucher only if you agree. Care (meals, calls, a hotel if you are stuck overnight) is owed while you wait; you can claim expenses on Aer Lingus's separate expenses form. More: Aer Lingus refunds and care rights.
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Claiming compensation for a cancelled Aer Lingus flight
Use the Flight Disruption Compensation Claim Form, linked from Aer Lingus's EU Regulation 261 page. You need:
- the booking reference, and your name exactly as it appears on the booking;
- details of all flights you are claiming for;
- name and contact details, and your bank account details;
- a letter of authorisation if you are claiming for someone else.
Expenses (hotel, meals, transport) go on the separate expenses form; group bookings have their own forms. Aer Lingus asks you not to submit a second claim if you have already sent one. The full process, including what to do after a rejection: how to claim from Aer Lingus.
If Aer Lingus refuses: IAA, CAA and court
- Flights from Ireland: the Irish Aviation Authority is the national enforcement body for EU261. It asks you to raise the matter with the airline first, then register on its online customer platform (MySRS) to complain. The Commission for Aviation Regulation, which used to do this job, merged into the IAA in 2023.
- Flights from Great Britain: Aer Lingus does not appear on the CAA's list of airlines in an approved ADR scheme, so UK261 complaints can go to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) – how to complain to the CAA. Flights to or from Northern Ireland go to the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
- Flights from another EU country: the enforcement body there – national enforcement bodies.
- Court: the Irish small claims procedure or the UK small claims court; limitation is 6 years in Ireland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland: 5 years. See Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Main page: Aer Lingus delay compensation.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation does Aer Lingus pay for a cancelled flight?
If you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline's control: €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) or €600 (over 3,500 km) per passenger, or £220 / £350 / £520 on flights from the UK. It may be halved if the replacement flight arrived close to the original time.
Do I have to accept an Aer Lingus voucher?
No. Aer Lingus offers both a voucher and a cash refund after a cancellation. Under EU261 the refund is due in money within seven days unless you agree to a voucher.
Who pays compensation for Aer Lingus Regional flights?
Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Emerald Airlines (Ireland) Limited, which is the operating carrier under EU261. Emerald's own website refers passengers to Aer Lingus's EU261 page and contact channels.
Are Aer Lingus flights from the USA covered?
Yes. Aer Lingus is an EU airline, so its flights from the USA or Canada into Ireland are covered by EU261. The Irish Aviation Authority gives an Aer Lingus New York–Dublin flight as an example.
Who do I complain to if Aer Lingus rejects my claim?
The Irish Aviation Authority for flights from Ireland, the CAA's PACT for flights from Great Britain, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland for flights to or from Northern Ireland, or the enforcement body of the EU country you departed from.
The Aer Lingus name belongs to its owner; EU261 Flight Delay is an independent information site and is not affiliated with Aer Lingus. Information only, not legal advice.
Sources
- EU Regulation 261/2004 – Aer Lingus
- Cancellations & Schedule Changes – Aer Lingus
- Vouchers Information – Aer Lingus
- Contact us (Aer Lingus Regional operated by Emerald Airlines) – Emerald Airlines
- Air Passenger Rights – Irish Aviation Authority
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (UK version), Article 5 – legislation.gov.uk
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (UK version), Article 7 – legislation.gov.uk
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.