How to claim Ryanair compensation for a delay or cancellation: EU261 claim form and step-by-step guide
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
If your Ryanair flight reached its destination 3 or more hours late, or was cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 entitles you to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, unless there were extraordinary circumstances. This guide explains how to use Ryanair’s EU261 claim form, which excuses don’t hold up and what to do if your claim is rejected.
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Check my flight1When EU261 applies to a Ryanair flight
Ryanair (Ryanair DAC) holds an Irish operating licence, so it is an EU airline. That means the Regulation covers almost all its flights:
Flights departing any airport in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, including domestic flights within Spain.
Flights arriving in the EU from outside it, such as Marrakesh–Madrid, because Ryanair is an EU airline.
Connections on a single booking: what counts is the delay on arrival at your final destination.
Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances the airline can prove, such as a storm or an air traffic control decision that affected your flight.
Flights booked separately: each ticket is assessed on its own.
2How much you can get from Ryanair
EU261 compensation per passenger
Up to 1,500 km
Madrid–Barcelona, Seville–Paris, Valencia–Milan
Over 1,500 km within the EU, or 1,500–3,500 km
Madrid–Berlin, Barcelona–Athens, Málaga–Warsaw
Over 3,500 km outside the EU
Ryanair hardly operates routes this long
Distance is measured in a straight line between the departure airport and the final destination. If the cancellation or delay is 5 hours or more, you can also ask for a refund of your ticket.
Check how much I’m owed3How to claim from Ryanair, step by step
- 1
Keep your documents
Boarding pass, booking confirmation email with your reservation number, and any messages from Ryanair about the delay or cancellation. If you paid for meals or a hotel, keep the receipts.
- 2
Check the actual arrival time
What counts is when the aircraft door opened at your destination, not the landing time (CJEU, C-452/13). You can look it up on flight tracking services such as FlightAware.
- 3
Fill in Ryanair’s EU261 claim form
You’ll find it in the help centre on ryanair.com, under delay or cancellation claims (EU261). You need your reservation number, flight number and each passenger’s details. Ask for compensation in money.
- 4
Wait for the reply
If Ryanair hasn’t replied within a month, or rejects the claim, you can complain to the national enforcement body: in Spain that is AESA, for flights departing a Spanish airport.
- 5
Escalate: AESA, court or AviFly
You can complain to AESA for free, sue yourself (no lawyer needed up to €2,000) or let AviFly handle the whole process with nothing to pay upfront.
4Common excuses and what the law says
To avoid paying, the airline has to prove an extraordinary circumstance that affected your flight and that it couldn’t have avoided with reasonable measures.
"There was a technical fault"
A fault arising from maintenance or the normal operation of the aircraft is not an extraordinary circumstance (CJEU, Wallentin-Hermann C-549/07 and van der Lans C-257/14). A hidden manufacturing defect reported by the manufacturer or the authorities could be.
"It was due to air traffic control restrictions"
Air traffic control decisions can be extraordinary circumstances, but Ryanair has to show they affected your specific flight and caused the delay. A general mention isn’t enough.
"The aircraft was late from its previous flight"
A knock-on delay alone doesn’t exempt the airline. It only counts if the aircraft’s previous flight was hit by an extraordinary circumstance, there is a direct link to your delay and the airline took reasonable measures (CJEU, C-74/19).
"The crew ran out of duty hours"
Crew planning is part of an airline’s normal activity. A lack of available staff is not an extraordinary circumstance.
5What to do if Ryanair rejects your claim
A rejection isn’t the final word. You have three options:
AESA (flights departing Spain)
The procedure is free and online. You must have claimed from Ryanair first and waited a month or received its reply.
Going to court
You can sue at the place of departure or arrival of the flight (CJEU, Rehder C-204/08). In Spain, claims up to €2,000 need no lawyer or court agent, and the generally accepted time limit is 5 years (Art. 1964 of the Spanish Civil Code).
AviFly
We handle the claim, the negotiation and, if needed, the lawsuit. We only charge if you get your money: 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT if it goes to court.
Claim from Ryanair with AviFly
Nothing upfront. We only charge if you recover your compensation.
Claim from RyanairFrequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim from Ryanair?
In Spain the generally accepted time limit is 5 years from the flight (Art. 1964 of the Spanish Civil Code); other countries set their own limits. Even so, it’s best to claim early, while you still have your boarding pass and the airline’s messages.
Where is Ryanair’s EU261 claim form?
In the help centre on ryanair.com, under delay or cancellation claims. You need your reservation number and flight number. If you’re claiming for several passengers on the same booking, include them all.
What if I bought my ticket through an agency such as eDreams or Kiwi?
Compensation is paid by the airline operating the flight — Ryanair — even if you bought the ticket through an agency (Art. 3(5) of the Regulation). Claim directly from Ryanair using your reservation number.
Does EU261 cover Ryanair flights within Spain?
Yes. The Regulation applies to every flight departing an EU airport, including domestic ones. A Ryanair Madrid–Barcelona flight arriving 3 or more hours late gives each passenger the right to €250.
Do I have to accept a voucher instead of money?
No. Compensation is paid in cash, by bank transfer or cheque; it can only be paid in vouchers if you agree in writing (Art. 7(3) of the Regulation). If you don’t want the voucher, turn it down and ask for a bank transfer.