How much can I get for a cancelled Ryanair flight?

Beyond a refund of your ticket, you may be entitled to EU261 compensation of 250 EUR (routes up to 1,500 km), 400 EUR (1,500-3,500 km) or 600 EUR (over 3,500 km), if the cancellation was notified less than 14 days before departure and was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

Does Ryanair cancel flights often?

No. Ryanair has a cancellation rate of about 0.6%, well below the industry average of around 1.6%. On cancellations, it is one of the most reliable airlines in Europe.

Do I have to accept Ryanair's voucher?

No. You always have the right to refuse a voucher and request a cash refund within 7 days. The voucher is optional.

Are a refund and compensation the same thing?

No. A refund returns your ticket price; compensation is a fixed amount (250-600 EUR) for the disruption. In many cases you can claim both.

Ryanair cancelled flight refund: your rights and how to claim

If your Ryanair flight has been cancelled, the first thing worth knowing is that this is statistically rare. Ryanair cancels roughly 0.6% of flights, against an industry average of about 1.6% - on the cancellation front, it is one of the most reliable airlines in Europe. That is exactly why, when a cancellation does happen, it pays to understand what you can claim.

Refund vs compensation: two different things

These are two separate rights, and you can often have both.

Refund = getting your ticket price back. Due when the flight is cancelled and you do not accept (or are not offered) an alternative flight.
EU261 compensation = a fixed amount for the disruption, independent of what you paid: 250 EUR up to 1,500 km, 400 EUR between 1,500 and 3,500 km, 600 EUR over 3,500 km.

Compensation is only due if the cancellation was notified less than 14 days in advance and the cause is the airline’s fault (not extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, airspace closure or air traffic controller strikes).

How to get a refund from Ryanair

Log in to “My Ryanair” or the customer portal and find the refund option for cancelled flights.
If Ryanair offers an alternative flight that does not suit you, decline it explicitly and request a cash refund (not the voucher).
For EU261 compensation, file a separate claim stating the flight number, date and amount due based on distance.
Keep your boarding pass, the cancellation email and receipts for any extra costs (meals, hotel, transport).

The ticket refund must be processed within 7 days of your request.

When EU261 applies to Ryanair

Ryanair is an Irish airline, so an EU carrier. EU261 applies:

to all flights departing from an EU airport, whatever the destination;
to all flights arriving in the EU operated by Ryanair (an EU carrier).

In practice, almost the entire Ryanair network falls under EU261 protection.

What FlightGuard does

With FlightGuard you can check the risk of your next flight in advance, based on weather, carrier punctuality, ATC delays and other factors. It does not replace a refund claim, but it helps you know what to expect. All data sources are listed at /en/sources/.

In short

Ryanair rarely cancels, but when it does you are entitled to a refund of your ticket and, if you were notified less than 14 days in advance, to EU261 compensation too. Always claim both, and do not accept the voucher if you prefer cash.