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Kenya Airways flight delay and cancellation compensation

Up to €600 compensation per passenger. Was your Kenya Airways flight delayed or cancelled, or were you denied boarding? Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways 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. A Kenyan airline: UK261 covers its flights departing UK airports (London–Nairobi) and EU261 its flights departing EU airports (e.g. Amsterdam or Paris to Nairobi). Flights from Nairobi to the UK or EU are not covered by either.

IATA code
KQ
Headquarters
Nairobi (Embakasi)
Hub
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO)
Type
Full-service
EU261 scope
flights departing the EU

Kenya Airways flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways routes: London Heathrow–Nairobi, London Gatwick–Nairobi, Amsterdam–Nairobi, Paris CDG–Nairobi.

Kenya Airways flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways 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

What to know when claiming from Kenya Airways

  • Kenya Airways has an EU passenger-rights page (kenya-airways.com → Policies → EU passenger rights) that links to its online ‘Flight Disruption Claim Submission’ form.
  • If you booked a KLM–Kenya Airways codeshare, the airline that operated the delayed flight is responsible. KLM is an EU airline, so a KLM-operated flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam is covered by EU261; a Kenya Airways-operated one is not.
  • Kenya Airways is not in a CAA-approved ADR scheme. For flights from the UK, unresolved complaints can go to the CAA's PACT.

About Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways was founded on 22 January 1977 after the collapse of East African Airways; its first route was Nairobi–Frankfurt–London. Privatised in 1996, with KLM as a shareholder, it is today owned mainly by the Kenyan government and its lenders. It has been a member of SkyTeam since 2010 and also owns the low-cost airline Jambojet.

From its Nairobi hub it links Europe with East Africa and onward destinations in Africa. In the UK it flies from London Heathrow and, since July 2025, from London Gatwick.

London–Nairobi is about 6,800 km, so a flight from the UK that reaches its final destination 4 hours or more late gives £520 per passenger (£260 for 3–4 hours). The return to the UK is not covered.

How to claim directly from Kenya Airways

  • Official online form: kenya-airways.com
  • EU passenger-rights page linking to Kenya Airways’ online ‘Flight Disruption Claim Submission’ form. 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 Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://www.kenya-airways.com/en-gb/policies/eu-passenger-rights/), 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 Kenya Airways 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.

Kenya Airways 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 Kenya Airways 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. Kenya Airways – official claim / complaints page – Kenya Airways
  2. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex
  3. 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.