Air China flight delay and cancellation compensation

Your rights on an Air China flight

Air China (CA) is the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, hubbed at Beijing and flying to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome. It is not an EU or UK carrier, and that single fact decides where your rights reach.

Because Air China holds no EU or UK licence, protection attaches to the airport you departed from, not to the airline:

• Departing any EU/EEA airport on Air China — EU261 applies.
• Departing the UK on Air China — UK261, the retained British version of the rules, applies.
• Arriving into the EU/EEA or the UK from Beijing — not covered, because Air China is not a Community carrier and the inbound limb requires an EU or UK airline.

So a London Heathrow departure to Beijing is protected; the same route flown Beijing to Heathrow is not. Every Air China route out of Europe is long-haul, which places eligible claims in the top compensation band.

The triggers are a delay of three hours or more at your final destination, a cancellation with under 14 days' notice, or involuntary denied boarding.

How much you could receive

The amount is set by the distance of the route, not the fare or the cabin, and each passenger with a confirmed booking claims separately.

• EUR 250 — flights of 1,500 km or less
• EUR 400 — flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km
• EUR 600 — flights over 3,500 km, which covers Air China's departures from Europe to Beijing

UK261 claims use the sterling bands of GBP 220 / GBP 350 / GBP 520.

When Air China doesn't have to pay

There is no compensation where the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures — severe weather, air-traffic-control restrictions, airport closures, security alerts or a bird strike.

Two points are widely misunderstood:

• The airline carries the burden of proof. A one-line message citing "operational reasons" is an assertion, not evidence.
• A strike by Air China's own crew is generally not extraordinary, while strikes by third parties — air-traffic controllers, airport handlers — usually are.

Routine technical faults found during ordinary maintenance normally remain the airline's responsibility.

How to claim from Air China

Keep the booking reference, your boarding pass, and any message announcing the delay or cancellation. Ask, in writing, for the reason.

We handle the submission, the follow-up and any appeal from start to finish.

What it costs

The eligibility check is free. If we recover your compensation we charge a fixed EUR 39 success fee — the same whether you're owed EUR 250 or EUR 600 — and the airline's payment goes to you. No win, no fee.