In short: Flying to Egypt from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £520 under UK261. On the way home you are covered only on an EU airline (into the EU) or a UK or EU airline (into the UK). Local rules may help on airlines from there.
Your rights each way
| Direction | Rules | Covered airlines | 3h+ delay / late cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → Egypt | EU261 | any airline | €250 |
| Egypt → another EU/EEA country or Switzerland | EU261 | only an EU airline | €250 |
| UK → Egypt | UK261 | any airline | £520 |
| Egypt → UK | UK261 | only a UK or EU airline | £520 |
| Outside Europe → Egypt | none | – | – |
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.
Local rules: Egyptian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 601 (Passengers Protection, Issue 6 Rev. 2, July 2019) cover denied boarding, cancellation, long delay and downgrading on international flights from Egyptian airports, and on international flights to Egypt operated by Egyptian airlines (unless the passengers received benefits or compensation and assistance in the other country). For denied boarding and cancellation, compensation claimed within 30 days is EGP 300 (under 1,000 km), EGP 900 (1,000–4,000 km) or EGP 1,500 (over 4,000 km). For long delays the rules give care (from 2 hours) and a refund (from 5 hours), but no fixed compensation.
Check your flight to or from Egypt
Two minutes, free, no sign-up.
Routes from the UK to Egypt
From the UK: in the CAA’s 2025 data the busiest Egyptian destinations from UK airports were Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea, followed by Cairo, Sphinx International (Giza), Luxor and Marsa Alam. Your flight from the UK to Egypt is covered by UK261 whatever the airline. The return flight is covered by UK261 only if a UK or EU airline operates it (and not if you received benefits or compensation and assistance under local rules); a flight from Egypt to the EU is covered by EU261 only on an EU airline.
Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).
| Route | Flights | On time | 3h+ late | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow – Cairo | 3,508 | 71.1% | 0.26% | 0.48% |
| London Gatwick – Sharm El Sheikh | 1,632 | 66.4% | 0.37% | 0.12% |
| London Gatwick – Hurghada | 1,500 | 62.3% | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| Manchester – Hurghada | 1,035 | 59.4% | 1.05% | 0.96% |
Strikes
No strikes affecting flights in Egypt are announced in our calendar at the moment.
Where to complain
- The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
- Authority: Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) – Under ECAR Part 601, each passenger may complain to the ECAA..
- 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 Egypt
- Your flight home from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh is covered by EU261 if an EU airline flies you to the EU, or by UK261 if a UK or EU airline flies you to the UK; on an Egyptian airline neither applies, but Egypt’s ECAR Part 601 does.
- Egyptian compensation for cancellation or denied boarding must be claimed within 30 days and is far lower than under EU261 or UK261 – if either applies, rely on it.
- Egypt is a party to the Montreal Convention 1999, so proven costs caused by a delay can be claimed from the airline.
Frequently asked questions
Am I covered on a flight to Egypt?
From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£520). From outside Europe you are covered by neither rule.
Am I covered on the flight home from Egypt?
Flights from Egypt into the EU are covered by EU261 only on an EU airline, and into the UK by UK261 only on a UK or EU airline. With a Egypt airline you are not covered by EU261 or UK261.
Egyptian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 601 (Passengers Protection, Issue 6 Rev. 2, July 2019) cover denied boarding, cancellation, long delay and downgrading on international flights from Egyptian airports, and on international flights to Egypt operated by Egyptian airlines (unless the passengers received benefits or compensation and assistance in the other country). For denied boarding and cancellation, compensation claimed within 30 days is EGP 300 (under 1,000 km), EGP 900 (1,000–4,000 km) or EGP 1,500 (over 4,000 km). For long delays the rules give care (from 2 hours) and a refund (from 5 hours), but no fixed compensation.
Who enforces passenger rights in Egypt?
Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) – Under ECAR Part 601, each passenger may complain to the ECAA.. 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
- ECAR Part 601 – Passengers Protection (Issue 6, Rev. 2, July 2019) – Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority
- ECAA legislation – Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
- Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (Montreal, 1999) – list of parties – ICAO
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
- EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
- 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.