Check compensationCheck

Air France flight delay and cancellation compensation

Up to €600 compensation per passenger. Was your Air France flight delayed or cancelled, or were you denied boarding? Air France is licensed in the EU, so EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to all its flights. Here is what to expect and what to do.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: Reading time: 8 min How we write our guides

Check compensation or start a claim with AirHelp straight away

In short: On Air France flights on every route you are entitled to €250–600 compensation for an arrival delay of more than 3 hours, a cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure, or involuntary denied boarding – unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. You can usually claim for flights up to 3 years back.

IATA code
AF
Headquarters
Tremblay-en-France (Paris CDG)
Hub
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY)
Type
Full-service
EU261 scope
all flights

Air France flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Air France flight reached its final destination at least 3 hours late (counting from when the doors opened), and the cause was within the airline's control – a technical fault, staff shortage, a delay on the previous flight, a strike by its own staff – you are entitled to compensation. It is not due if the airline proves extraordinary circumstances (weather, an air traffic control strike, an airport closure). Read the full conditions here.

Typical Air France routes: Paris CDG–New York JFK, Paris–Réunion, Paris CDG–Tokyo, Paris CDG–Montreal, Paris CDG–Budapest.

Air France flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Air France must offer you a refund of the ticket price (within 7 days) or re-routing on the earliest available flight – including another airline's, if that is quicker. If you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure and the re-routing offered differed significantly from the original flight, you are also entitled to compensation. More on the 14-day rule.

How much compensation for a Air France flight?

Flight distanceDelay on arrivalCompensation per passenger
Up to 1,500 km
e.g. London–Paris, Berlin–Rome, Dublin–Amsterdamover 3 hours€250UK261: £220
1,500–3,500 km, and every flight within the EU over 1,500 km
e.g. London–Athens, Frankfurt–Tenerife, Rome–Tel Avivover 3 hours€400UK261: £350
Over 3,500 km, to or from outside the EU
e.g. London–New York, Frankfurt–Dubai, Paris–Bangkokbetween 3 and 4 hours€300UK261: £260 (reduced by 50%)
Over 3,500 km, to or from outside the EUover 4 hours€600UK261: £520

Check your Air France flight

Two minutes, free, no sign-up.

What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Fee only if successful (35%)
  • AirHelp: Trustpilot 4.5/5

Rather skip the questions? Start a claim with AirHelp straight away

How punctual was Air France in the UK in 2025?

Air France operated 13,194 flights at UK airports in 2025. 0.45% were 3 hours or more late and 1.39% were cancelled – see how that compares with the UK average below and in our UK delay statistics.

Flights operated
13,194

2025, at UK airports

On time (≤ 15 min late)
68.9%

close to the UK average (72.7%)

3 hours or more late
0.45%

1 in 222 flights · better than the UK average

Cancelled
1.39%

186 flights · worse than the UK average

Average delay
16.1 min

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

UK airportFlightsOn time3 h+ lateCancelled
London Heathrow4,93073.1%0.26%1.68%
Manchester2,39054.7%1.24%1.36%
Birmingham2,37873.7%0.04%1.00%
Edinburgh1,87468.9%0.37%1.06%
Newcastle1,62169.8%0.55%1.52%

What to know when claiming from Air France

  • Note the difference: ‘grève des contrôleurs aériens’ (ATC strike, no compensation) and ‘grève du personnel Air France’ (the airline's own staff, compensation due).
  • Changing terminals at CDG (2E–2F) can take 30–45 minutes; if Air France sold you a short connection, it is responsible for it.

About Air France

Air France is France's flag carrier, connecting most European cities with its Paris Charles de Gaulle hub. Travellers mainly use it for the French overseas territories, Africa and North America.

The regular strikes by French air traffic controllers (ATC strikes) are extraordinary circumstances – no compensation is due for them. A strike by Air France's own staff, however, is not, so compensation is due.

How to claim directly from Air France

  • Official online form: wwws.airfrance.co.uk
  • Log in or use your booking reference and name; claims can be tracked at /claim/track-a-claim. Air France lets you choose a non-refundable voucher or cash – choose cash if you want money. UK ADR: AviationADR member.
  • Our complaint letter generator writes the letter for you – filled in, as a printable PDF.

We checked these claim channels on the airline's own website (10 November 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Am I entitled to compensation if my Air France flight was at least 3 hours late?

Yes, if the flight departed from anywhere (it is an EU airline) and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances. The amount depends on the distance: €250, €400 or €600.

How do I submit a claim to Air France?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://wwws.airfrance.co.uk/claim), or through our partner AirHelp, which checks the flight data and, if the airline rejects the claim, takes the case to the enforcement body or to court – for a fee of 35% only if it succeeds.

How long do I have to claim for a Air France flight?

Limitation periods vary by country and are set by national law – for example 6 years in England & Wales, 5 years in Scotland and Hungary, and 3 years in Germany (from the end of the year). AirHelp typically accepts claims for flights up to 3 years old.

Air France offered me a voucher instead of compensation. Do I have to accept it?

No. Under the Regulation, compensation is paid in money; the airline may only give you a voucher with your written agreement. If you want money, do not accept it.

Flew with another airline?

The Air France name and trademark belong to their owner; EU261 Flight Delay is an independent information site with no connection to the airline. The content is for information only and is not legal advice. We receive a commission when a claim submitted through our partner links succeeds.

Sources

  1. Air France – official claim / complaints page – Air France
  2. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  3. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex
  4. Delays and cancellations – your rights – UK Civil Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.