Etihad Airways flight delay and cancellation compensation

Your rights on an Etihad Airways flight

Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, based at Abu Dhabi and flying a long-haul network across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. It is not an EU or UK carrier, so your rights depend on the airport you depart from, not on the airline.

Since Etihad holds no EU or UK licence, protection attaches to the departure airport only:

• Departing any EU/EEA airport on Etihad — EU261 applies, as it would to any operating carrier leaving Europe.
• Departing the UK on Etihad — UK261 applies.
• Arriving into the EU/EEA or the UK from Abu Dhabi — not covered, because Etihad is not a Community carrier and the inbound limb requires an EU or UK airline.

A Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Manchester departure to Abu Dhabi is protected; the same route flown from Abu Dhabi into Europe is not. Because Etihad's European services are long-haul, many eligible claims reach the highest band.

How much you could receive

The figure is set by route distance, not by the price paid, and each passenger on the booking is entitled 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 most Etihad departures from Europe to Abu Dhabi

UK261 claims use GBP 220 / GBP 350 / GBP 520. Under Article 7(2), the airline may pay half the top figure where a re-routed long-haul flight arrives under four hours late, so the exact gate-arrival time matters.

When Etihad doesn't have to pay

No compensation is due where Etihad proves extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures — severe weather, ATC flow restrictions, airport closures, security alerts or a bird strike.

Two points are widely misunderstood:

• The airline carries the burden of proof. An unexplained "operational disruption" line does not discharge it.
• A strike by Etihad's own crew is generally not extraordinary, while third-party strikes — ATC, airport handlers — usually are.

Routine technical faults found in ordinary maintenance normally remain the airline's responsibility, even when described as unforeseeable.

How to claim from Etihad

Keep the booking reference, boarding passes for each leg, and any notification of the change. For a missed connection, note the real arrival time at your final destination rather than the delay on the first sector.

We run the whole process, chase the airline and handle any appeal, and we tell you honestly if a defence is likely to succeed.

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.