Icelandair delay & cancellation compensation

In short: On Icelandair flights on every route 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. You can usually claim for flights up to 3 years back.

IATA code: FI
Headquarters: Hafnarfjörður
Hub: Keflavík (KEF)
Type: Full-service
EU261 scope: all flights

Icelandair flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Icelandair 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 Icelandair routes: London Heathrow–Keflavík, London Gatwick–Keflavík, Manchester–Keflavík, Glasgow–Keflavík, Keflavík–New York JFK, Keflavík–Boston.

Icelandair flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Icelandair 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 Icelandair 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 Icelandair in the UK in 2025?

Icelandair operated 3,709 flights at UK airports in 2025. 0.35% were 3 hours or more late and 1.23% were cancelled – see how that compares with the UK average below and in our UK delay statistics.

Flights operated: 3,709
On time (≤ 15 min late): 80.9%
3 hours or more late: 0.35%
Cancelled: 1.23%
Average delay: 9.8 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	1,438	82.6%	0.34%	1.24%
London Gatwick	871	75.6%	0.11%	1.47%
Glasgow	678	81.6%	0.15%	1.02%
Manchester	596	84.1%	0.50%	1.00%
Edinburgh	111	81.4%	1.77%	1.77%

What to know when claiming from Icelandair

Icelandair's online claims page (icelandair.com → Support → Claims) handles compensation, refunds, expenses and confirmation of a delay or cancellation; you need your booking reference.
Missed connection at Keflavík: if both flights were on one booking, compensation is based on the distance from your first departure airport to your final destination – for example London–Keflavík–Boston is over 3,500 km.
Icelandair 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; for flights departing Iceland, to the Icelandic Transport Authority.

Typical rejection reasons – and how to answer them

‘Weather in Iceland’ – ask for the conditions at the time and whether other flights operated; strong wind or snow at Keflavík only exempts the airline if it actually prevented your flight and Icelandair took all reasonable measures.

About Icelandair

Icelandair was founded on 3 June 1937 as Flugfélag Akureyrar in Akureyri; since 2024 its headquarters have been in Hafnarfjörður. From its hub at Keflavík it connects Europe with North America, and since the 1960s transatlantic passengers have been able to stop over in Iceland for up to seven days at no extra fare. Its fleet is moving from Boeing 757s and 767s to Airbus A321LR and A321XLR aircraft, alongside Boeing 737 MAX jets.

From the UK, Icelandair flies to Keflavík from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow, with some flights from Edinburgh (CAA 2025 data).

Iceland is not in the EU but is part of the European Economic Area, which has adopted Regulation 261/2004 – so EU261 applies to every Icelandair flight, including flights from North America into Keflavík. Volcanic ash that closes airspace, as in the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, is an extraordinary circumstance; airline-side problems are not.

How to claim directly from Icelandair

Official online form: icelandair.com
One claims page for compensation, refunds, expenses and confirmation of a delay; you need your booking reference. 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 Icelandair flight was at least 3 hours late?

Yes, if the flight departed from anywhere (it is an EU airline) 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 Icelandair?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://www.icelandair.com/support/flight-disruptions/), 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 Icelandair 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.

Icelandair 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 Icelandair 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

Icelandair – official claim / complaints page – Icelandair
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.

Icelandair flight delay and cancellation compensation