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Cancelled easyJet flight refund: EU261 and UK261 rights

easyJet is a large low-cost carrier headquartered in the United Kingdom but with numerous operating bases across Europe. In our data easyJet records a 0.0% cancellation rate, below the industry average of about 1.6%, with 73% on-time performance and an average delay of 26 minutes. That is a good profile on cancellations: they are rare. Moderate delays are more common, as is typical of a carrier running many daily rotations. When a flight is cancelled, though, you have clear rights, and with easyJet there is an important nuance between European and British law.

Refund and compensation: two different rights

  • Refund: the return of the price of the unused ticket. If easyJet cancels your flight and you do not accept the alternative, you are entitled to a full refund.
  • Compensation: a fixed sum for the disruption, independent of the ticket price. It is due only if the cancellation was notified less than 14 days in advance, is easyJet’s fault and there are no extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security emergencies).

EU261 or UK261? The easyJet nuance

Although it is headquartered in the UK, easyJet operates many EU bases, so the applicable law depends on the route:

  • EU261 applies to flights departing an EU/EEA airport (any carrier) and to easyJet flights into the EU/EEA, as easyJet operates extensively from Europe. Amounts: €250 (≤1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km), €600 (>3,500 km).
  • UK261 applies to flights departing the UK. It is the British version that mirrors EU261 after Brexit, with amounts in pounds: £220 (≤1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km), £520 (>3,500 km).

In practice: departing Milan, Paris or Amsterdam? EU261. Departing London or Manchester? UK261. The two regimes mirror each other in principle; the currency and amounts differ.

How to get a refund from easyJet

  1. Keep the cancellation notice and your booking reference.
  2. Log in to the easyJet app or official website and open the manage booking / refunds and disruptions section.
  3. Choose between a refund of the ticket and rebooking onto an alternative flight.
  4. Submit a compensation claim stating the route: the departure airport tells you whether it falls under EU261 or UK261.
  5. Keep dates, amounts and reference numbers for any follow-up or escalation to the relevant authority.

What FlightGuard does

FlightGuard estimates your flight’s disruption risk in advance by combining weather, carrier punctuality, air traffic control delays and other factors, so you know what to expect before you travel. The data sources are listed at /en/sources/.

Flight cancelled or delayed?Up to €600 EU261 compensation.Check your claim →

Frequently asked questions

In our data easyJet records a 0.0% cancellation rate, below the industry average of about 1.6%, with 73% on-time performance and an average delay of 26 minutes. Cancellations are rare; moderate delays are more common, as is typical of a low-cost carrier with many daily rotations.

It depends on the route. For flights departing an EU/EEA airport and for easyJet flights into the EU, EU261 applies (€250/€400/€600). For flights departing the UK, UK261 applies, which mirrors EU261 with amounts in pounds (£220/£350/£520).

No. A refund returns the price of the unflown ticket; compensation (EU261 or UK261) is a separate fixed sum for the disruption. After a cancellation you may be entitled to both.

Many easyJet routes are under 1,500 km, so compensation is often €250 (EU261) or £220 (UK261), provided the cancellation is easyJet's fault and was notified less than 14 days in advance.

Check a easyJet flight