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Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen to Brussels Zaventem: flight delays and compensation

122,227 passengers travelled between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) and Brussels Airport (BRU) in 2024, according to Eurostat. Here is what a delay or cancellation on this route is worth in each direction, which rules apply, and how often the two airports are hit by air traffic restrictions.

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

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In short: Istanbul–Brussels is 2,204 km. A 3-hour-plus delay or a late cancellation is worth €400 per passenger from Istanbul (only an EU airline) and €400 from Brussels. 122,227 passengers used the route in 2024.

What you can claim on this route

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3 h+ delay / late cancellation
Istanbul → BrusselsEU261only an EU airline€400
Brussels → IstanbulEU261any airline€400

The amount depends only on distance (2,204 km, measured as the great circle between the airports) – not on the ticket price – and is paid per passenger, children included. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide care (meals, drinks, a hotel overnight), and after a cancellation you choose between a refund or re-routing.

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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

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Air traffic flow delays at Istanbul (SAW)

EUROCONTROL records the delay imposed on arriving flights when the airport or the airspace around it cannot take more traffic (air traffic flow management, “ATFM”). In 2025, 132,648 flights arrived at SAW; 1,263 of them were held back this way, 817 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 0.29 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • aerodrome capacity55%
  • weather45%

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

Worst days: 5 April 2025 – 6,883 minutes, mostly weather; 27 October 2025 – 4,569 minutes, mostly weather; 20 December 2025 – 2,850 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 105,490 arrivals, 0.43 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (worse than 2025), mainly weather (77%) and aerodrome capacity (23%).

Check what happened at SAW on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (45% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (0%) or airport limits – causes airlines often cite as extraordinary circumstances. They are only part of the story: most long delays come from the airline’s own operation (technical faults, crew, late inbound aircraft), which this data does not show. Source: EUROCONTROL.

Air traffic flow delays at Brussels (BRU)

EUROCONTROL records the delay imposed on arriving flights when the airport or the airspace around it cannot take more traffic (air traffic flow management, “ATFM”). In 2025, 99,734 flights arrived at BRU; 4,611 of them were held back this way, 1,822 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 0.77 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • aerodrome capacity60%
  • weather35%
  • other2%
  • equipment (ATC)2%
  • ATC capacity1%
  • ATC staffing1%

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

Worst days: 28 July 2025 – 3,648 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity; 11 August 2025 – 3,393 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity; 12 June 2025 – 3,136 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 76,526 arrivals, 0.70 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (better than 2025), mainly equipment (ATC) (39%) and weather (28%).

Check what happened at BRU on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (35% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (3%) or airport limits – causes airlines often cite as extraordinary circumstances. They are only part of the story: most long delays come from the airline’s own operation (technical faults, crew, late inbound aircraft), which this data does not show. Source: EUROCONTROL.

Other routes from these airports

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation for a delayed Istanbul–Brussels flight?

The great-circle distance is 2,204 km. From Istanbul: €400 per passenger (EU261, only an EU airline). From Brussels: €400 per passenger (EU261, any airline). The delay at your final destination must be 3 hours or more, and the airline must not be able to prove extraordinary circumstances.

Is a Istanbul–Brussels flight covered if the airline is not European?

Departures from an EU or UK airport are covered with any airline. From Istanbul (Turkey) you are covered only on an EU-licensed airline flying into the EU (or a UK/EU airline into the UK).

What if the flight was cancelled?

You can choose a refund or re-routing, get care while you wait, and – unless you were told at least 14 days before departure or the airline proves extraordinary circumstances – fixed compensation. Cancelled flight compensation.

Passenger numbers: Eurostat 2024 (passengers carried between the two airports, both directions). Delay data: EUROCONTROL. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  2. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  3. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex

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