Air India delay & cancellation compensation

In short: On Air India flights departing the EU 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. An Indian airline: UK261 covers its flights departing UK airports (e.g. Heathrow–Delhi) and EU261 its flights departing EU airports. Flights from India to the UK or EU fall under the Indian DGCA rules, which give much lower amounts.

IATA code: AI
Headquarters: Gurugram
Hub: Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR)
Type: Full-service
EU261 scope: flights departing the EU

Air India flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Air India 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 India routes: London Heathrow–Delhi, London Heathrow–Mumbai, London Heathrow–Bengaluru.

Air India flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Air India 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 India 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

How punctual was Air India in the UK in 2025?

Air India operated 6,016 flights at UK airports in 2025. 2.46% were 3 hours or more late and 2.40% were cancelled – see how that compares with the UK average below and in our UK delay statistics.

Flights operated: 6,016
On time (≤ 15 min late): 52.4%
3 hours or more late: 2.46%
Cancelled: 2.40%
Average delay: 32.8 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 airport	Flights	On time	3 h+ late	Cancelled
London Heathrow	4,606	49.7%	2.42%	1.43%
London Gatwick	809	68.8%	2.45%	5.93%
Birmingham	601	50.9%	2.72%	4.75%

What to know when claiming from Air India

Air India has a dedicated EU/UK 261 claim form on its customer support portal, for Air India flights departing the EU or the UK. You can enter up to 5 tickets (numbers starting 098 or 228) and must upload copies of the e-ticket and passport; a third party needs a signed authorisation and the passenger's ID.
Missed connection in Delhi on a journey from the UK, on one booking: compensation is based on the distance to your final destination, and the delay at the final destination is what counts.
Air India is not in a CAA-approved ADR scheme. For flights departing the UK, unresolved complaints can go to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).

Typical rejection reasons – and how to answer them

‘Operational reasons’ or ‘aircraft rotation’ – a knock-on delay from the aircraft's previous flight only exempts the airline if that earlier flight was hit by extraordinary circumstances; ask for the specific cause.

About Air India

Air India was founded on 15 October 1932 as Tata Airlines. After decades of state ownership it returned to the Tata Group on 27 January 2022, and on 12 November 2024 it completed its merger with Vistara. The Tata Group owns 74.9% and Singapore Airlines 25.1%. Air India is based in Gurugram, has its main hub in Delhi and has been a member of Star Alliance since 2014.

In the UK it flies mainly from London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, with further flights from London Gatwick and Birmingham. In the CAA's 2025 figures only 52.4% of Air India's flights at UK airports were on time, 2.46% arrived 3 hours or more late and 2.4% were cancelled.

London–Delhi and London–Mumbai are both over 3,500 km, so a flight departing the UK that arrives 4 hours or more late can mean £520 per passenger (£260 for 3–4 hours). The return flights from India are not covered by UK261.

How to claim directly from Air India

Official online form: airindia.com
Dedicated EU/UK 261 form for Air India flights departing the EU or UK: up to 5 tickets starting 098 or 228, with copies of the e-ticket and passport; third parties need a signed authorisation and the passenger’s ID. Not in a CAA-listed UK ADR scheme.
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 India flight was at least 3 hours late?

Yes, if the flight departed from an EU airport 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 India?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://www.airindia.com/in/en/contact-us/customer-support-portal/eu-uk-261-compensation-claim.html), 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 India 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 India 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 India 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

Air India – official claim / complaints page – Air India
UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex
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.

Air India flight delay and cancellation compensation