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Ethiopian Airlines flight delay and cancellation compensation

Up to €600 compensation per passenger. Was your Ethiopian Airlines flight delayed or cancelled, or were you denied boarding? Ethiopian Airlines is not an EU or UK airline, so EU261 and UK261 apply only to its flights departing the EU or the UK. 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian airline: UK261 covers its flights departing UK airports (London or Manchester to Addis Ababa) and EU261 its flights departing EU airports. Flights from Addis Ababa to the UK or EU are not covered by either.

IATA code
ET
Headquarters
Addis Ababa
Hub
Addis Ababa Bole (ADD)
Type
Full-service
EU261 scope
flights departing the EU

Ethiopian Airlines flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines routes: London Heathrow–Addis Ababa, London Gatwick–Addis Ababa, Manchester–Addis Ababa, Frankfurt–Addis Ababa, Paris CDG–Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines in the UK in 2025?

Ethiopian Airlines operated 1,764 flights at UK airports in 2025. 0.28% were 3 hours or more late and 0.68% were cancelled – see how that compares with the UK average below and in our UK delay statistics.

Flights operated
1,764

2025, at UK airports

On time (≤ 15 min late)
69.0%

close to the UK average (72.7%)

3 hours or more late
0.28%

1 in 357 flights · better than the UK average

Cancelled
0.68%

12 flights · better than the UK average

Average delay
14.3 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 Heathrow72876.1%0.14%0.68%
Manchester62568.2%0.48%0.16%
London Gatwick41057.7%0.24%1.44%

What to know when claiming from Ethiopian Airlines

  • Use Ethiopian's ‘Support and Feedback’ form on its UK website (ethiopianairlines.com/uk → Help and contact) and choose the ‘After your flight’ option. It asks for your booking reference, flight number and date; no login is needed.
  • Ethiopian's customer commitment says it acknowledges complaints within 30 days and replies within 60 days.
  • Ethiopian is not in a CAA-approved ADR scheme. For flights from the UK, unresolved complaints can go to the CAA's PACT.

About Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines was founded on 21 December 1945 and began flying in April 1946. It is Africa's largest airline by passengers, destinations, fleet and revenue, and its Addis Ababa hub connects Europe with destinations across Africa. It has been a member of Star Alliance since December 2011.

Its long-haul fleet includes Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s; in 2023 it ordered 67 Boeing aircraft, the largest Boeing order in African history. In the UK it flies from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester – 1,764 flights in the CAA's 2025 figures, with 69% on time and 0.28% arriving 3 hours or more late.

London–Addis Ababa is about 5,900 km. With one booking – for example Manchester–Addis Ababa–Nairobi – a missed connection that gets you to your final destination 4 hours or more late gives £520 per passenger, because the journey starts in the UK. The return to the UK is not covered.

How to claim directly from Ethiopian Airlines

  • Official online form: ethiopianairlines.com
  • ‘Support and Feedback’ form (choose ‘After your flight’): booking reference, flight number and date, attachment up to 5 MB; no login. Ethiopian’s customer commitment: acknowledgement within 30 days, reply within 60 days. 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/uk/services/help-and-contact/support-and-feedback), 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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.

Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines 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. Ethiopian Airlines – official claim / complaints page – Ethiopian Airlines
  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.