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Flights to North Macedonia: delays, cancellations and your rights

By passengers on routes within Europe in Eurostat’s 2024 data, Skopje is North Macedonia’s main airport, with Ohrid the second. Flights to North Macedonia from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or the UK are covered by EU261 or UK261 whatever the airline; flights from North Macedonia are covered by EU261 only when they land in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland on an airline licensed in one of those countries, and by UK261 only when they land in the UK on a UK or EU airline (in both cases not if you received benefits or compensation and assistance under local rules). North Macedonia has transposed Regulation 261/2004 into its own law, according to its Civil Aviation Agency.

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

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In short: Flying to North Macedonia 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 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

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → North MacedoniaEU261any airline€250–€400
North Macedonia → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261only an EU airline€250–€400
UK → North MacedoniaUK261any airline£220
North Macedonia → UKUK261only a UK or EU airline£220
Outside Europe → North Macedonianone––

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: According to the Civil Aviation Agency, Regulation 261/2004 has been transposed into the Law on Contractual and Real Right Relations in respect of Aviation Transport (Official Gazette 85/08, amended in 2011 and 2015), in line with the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreement. The CAA is the body responsible for passenger rights on flights from and to airports in North Macedonia.

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

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1 passenger

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Airports in North Macedonia

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Skopje (SKP)2,808,1050.12 minequipment (ATC) (100%)
Ohrid (OHD)197,435––

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

Busiest European routes

Why flights to North Macedonia are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at North Macedonia’s airports by 0.12 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 1 airports). The worst month was Sep.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

  • equipment (ATC)100%

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 North Macedonia 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. Authority: Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia (CAA) – International Legal Division – Complain to the operating airline first; if it does not reply within six weeks, or the reply is insufficient, complain to the CAA on the EU complaint form (passengerrights@caa.gov.mk or by post). The CAA handles incidents at airports in North Macedonia, on any airline..
  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 North Macedonia

  • Give the airline six weeks to answer before going to the CAA, and use the EU complaint form.
  • For a flight into North Macedonia from a country outside the ECAA on an ECAA airline, complain to the North Macedonian CAA; for a departure from another ECAA country, complain to that country’s enforcement body.
  • In EUROCONTROL’s data Skopje had no arrival flow-control delay in 2024 and very little in 2025 (all attributed to air traffic control equipment), so if your flight was badly delayed, ask the airline in writing for the specific reason.

Frequently asked questions

Am I covered on a flight to North Macedonia?

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). From outside Europe you are covered by neither rule.

Am I covered on the flight home from North Macedonia?

Flights from North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia airline you are not covered by EU261 or UK261.

According to the Civil Aviation Agency, Regulation 261/2004 has been transposed into the Law on Contractual and Real Right Relations in respect of Aviation Transport (Official Gazette 85/08, amended in 2011 and 2015), in line with the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreement. The CAA is the body responsible for passenger rights on flights from and to airports in North Macedonia.

Who enforces passenger rights in North Macedonia?

Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia (CAA) – International Legal Division – Complain to the operating airline first; if it does not reply within six weeks, or the reply is insufficient, complain to the CAA on the EU complaint form (passengerrights@caa.gov.mk or by post). The CAA handles incidents at airports in North Macedonia, on any airline.. 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. Air passenger rights – Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia
  2. I want to file a complaint – Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia
  3. Law on Contractual and Real Right Relations in respect of Aviation (Official Gazette 85/08) – Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia
  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. Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
  8. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
  9. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  10. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  11. 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.