What UK and EU travelers can claim when flights are delayed or cancelled

A technical issue affecting air traffic control forced the grounding of numerous flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and other major UK airports, creating chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers. EU and UK passenger-rights rules require airlines to offer refreshments after two to four hours of delay, depending on flight distance, and to provide hotel rooms for overnight disruptions, regardless of the cause. If a flight is cancelled with less than two weeks' notice and no suitable alternative is offered, passengers are typically entitled to cash compensation ranging from £220 to £520, unless the airline can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, which do not cover mechanical failures.

Compensation amounts vary by distance, and airlines may propose vouchers instead of cash, though passengers can insist on monetary payment. Claims are usually submitted via the airline’s online form; if rejected, travelers can issue a Letter Before Action or use dispute-resolution services, though some firms retain a large share of any payout. Insurance only covers situations involving non-EU carriers departing from outside Europe, where airlines have no statutory duty to compensate.