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Zurich to Madeira: flight delays and compensation

54,800 passengers travelled between Zürich Airport (ZRH) and Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC) 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: Zurich–Madeira is 2,688 km. A 3-hour-plus delay or a late cancellation is worth €400 per passenger from Zurich and €400 from Madeira. 54,800 passengers used the route in 2024.

What you can claim on this route

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3 h+ delay / late cancellation
Zurich → MadeiraEU261any airline€400
Madeira → ZurichEU261any airline€400

The amount depends only on distance (2,688 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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Strikes that could affect this route

  • 2026-12-19–2026-12-23, Portugal: easyJet cabin crew based in Portugal (SNPVAC) (announced)

Strikes by air traffic controllers or airport staff usually count as extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff usually do not. Strike calendar.

Air traffic flow delays at Zurich (ZRH)

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, 133,877 flights arrived at ZRH; 19,525 of them were held back this way, 7,395 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 2.44 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • weather48%
  • other22%
  • aerodrome capacity19%
  • special event6%
  • ATC staffing2%
  • environmental issues1%

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: 9 May 2025 – 13,287 minutes, mostly weather; 6 April 2025 – 8,351 minutes, mostly weather; 2 April 2025 – 6,691 minutes, mostly weather.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 105,079 arrivals, 2.63 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (worse than 2025), mainly other (36%) and weather (34%).

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What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (48% 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.

Air traffic flow delays at Madeira (FNC)

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, 18,227 flights arrived at FNC; 213 of them were held back this way, 127 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 0.31 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • weather100%

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: 14 December 2025 – 1,393 minutes, mostly weather; 7 July 2025 – 706 minutes, mostly weather; 1 July 2025 – 545 minutes, mostly weather.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 14,110 arrivals, 0.32 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (worse than 2025), mainly weather (100%).

Check what happened at FNC on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (100% 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.

Other routes from these airports

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation for a delayed Zurich–Madeira flight?

The great-circle distance is 2,688 km. From Zurich: €400 per passenger (EU261, any airline). From Madeira: €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 Zurich–Madeira flight covered if the airline is not European?

Yes. Both airports apply EU261 (or UK261) to every departing flight, so the airline’s nationality does not matter in either direction.

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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