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Flights to Croatia: delays, cancellations and your rights

By passengers on routes within Europe in Eurostat’s 2024 data, Croatia’s busiest airports were Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar. Croatia Airlines has its hub in Zagreb and focus cities in Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar. EU261 covers every departure from Croatia, whatever the airline, and flights to Croatia from outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland when an airline licensed in one of those countries operates them.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Flying to Croatia from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220–£350 under UK261. On the way home, EU261 covers every flight leaving Croatia.

Your rights each way

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → CroatiaEU261any airline€250–€400
Croatia → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261any airline€250–€400
UK → CroatiaUK261any airline£220–£350
Croatia → UKEU261any airline€250–€400
Outside Europe → CroatiaEU261only an EU airlineby distance, up to €600

Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies. Living in Croatia or flying from there? See how to claim in Croatia.

Check your flight to or from Croatia

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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

Airports in Croatia

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Zagreb (ZAG)3,874,3470.02 minaccident/incident (70%)
Split (SPU)3,090,805––
Dubrovnik (DBV)2,514,642––
Zadar (ZAD)1,122,572––
Pula (PUY)309,350––

* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).

Routes from the UK to Croatia

From the UK: in the CAA’s 2025 data the busiest Croatian destinations from UK airports were Dubrovnik and Split on the Dalmatian coast, followed by Zagreb, Pula, Zadar and Osijek. Flights departing from Croatia are covered by EU261 whatever the airline; flights from the UK to Croatia by UK261; flights from Croatia to the UK by EU261.

Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).

RouteFlightsOn time3h+ lateCancelled
London Gatwick – Dubrovnik1,64167.6%0.67%0.61%
London Gatwick – Split1,19765.0%0.58%0.08%

Busiest European routes

Why flights to Croatia are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Croatia’s airports by 0.02 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 1 airports). The worst month was Jun.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

  • accident/incident70%
  • weather30%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.

Strikes

No strikes affecting flights in Croatia are announced in our calendar at the moment.

Strike calendar

Where to complain

  1. The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
  2. National enforcement body: Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) – Complain to the airline first; if it has not replied within 30 days or you are not satisfied, you can turn to the CCAA. The procedure is free; the CCAA tries to reach an amicable settlement and then issues a final opinion, which is not legally binding..
  3. From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.

Tips for flying to Croatia

  • Give the airline 30 days to answer before going to the CCAA, and attach its reply (or proof that you got none).
  • Because the CCAA’s final opinion is not binding, a refusing airline may still have to be taken to court – for a cross-border claim, the European Small Claims Procedure handles claims up to €5,000.
  • We found no Croatian ADR body specifically for airline disputes.

Frequently asked questions

Am I covered on a flight to Croatia?

From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220–£350). From outside Europe you are covered only on an EU airline.

Am I covered on the flight home from Croatia?

Croatia applies EU261 to every departing flight, so you are covered with any airline (€250–€400 on typical routes).

Who enforces passenger rights in Croatia?

Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) – Complain to the airline first; if it has not replied within 30 days or you are not satisfied, you can turn to the CCAA. The procedure is free; the CCAA tries to reach an amicable settlement and then issues a final opinion, which is not legally binding.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.

Are strikes covered?

It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.

Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. National enforcement bodies under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (updated 13 October 2026) – European Commission
  2. I want to submit a complaint – Croatian Civil Aviation Agency
  3. Regulation (EC) No 861/2007 – European Small Claims Procedure (not applicable in Denmark) – EUR-Lex
  4. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
  5. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
  6. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  7. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
  8. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  9. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  10. 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.