Swiss air passenger rights for flights to and from Switzerland.
Switzerland is not in the EU, but through its air transport agreement it applies an EC261-equivalent framework. Flights leaving Swiss airports carry comparable rights to compensation, care and refunds.
Checked by the FlightCompensations editorial team
Last updated 1 July 2026 · Editorial & corrections policy
What are Swiss air passenger rights?
Key takeaways
- Switzerland applies an EC261-equivalent regime through its air transport agreement with the EU.
- It covers flights departing Swiss airports on any airline, and flights into Switzerland on an EU or Swiss airline.
- Compensation, care and refund rights are comparable to those under EU261.
- The 3-hour arrival-delay principle applies in the same way as under EU261.
- Extraordinary circumstances can remove the payment, but the airline has to prove them.
- The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) is the national enforcement body.
Which situations qualify, and which usually don't?
May qualify for compensation
- Your flight departed a Swiss airport, or arrived in Switzerland on an EU or Swiss airline.
- You had a confirmed booking and checked in on time (usually where a check-in deadline applies).
- You experienced a qualifying disruption: a delay, cancellation or denied boarding.
- For delay compensation, you reached your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- For cancellation compensation, you were given less than 14 days' notice and were not re-routed within the allowed windows.
- The cause sat within the airline's control, not in a truly extraordinary event.
Usually excluded
- Disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances the airline could not have avoided (for example severe weather or air traffic control restrictions).
- Delays of under 3 hours at the final destination.
- Flights into Switzerland from outside the EU on an airline that is neither EU nor Swiss.
- Cancellations notified at least 14 days in advance.
- Cases where you were offered re-routing close to your original times within the notice windows.
How does Switzerland flight compensation compare with EU261?
Under its air transport agreement with the EU, Switzerland applies EU261 as if it were a member state: to flights departing Swiss airports on any airline, and to flights into Switzerland from outside the EU on an EU or Swiss airline.
Flights between Switzerland and the EU over 1,500 km are treated like flights within the EU, so they pay €400. Where you left from, and which airline flew you, decide whether the rules apply.
How much compensation can you get?
Swiss (EC261-equivalent) compensation by flight distance
| Flight | Amount |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 kmAlso any Switzerland–EU flight over 1,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km(€400 if the flight is between Switzerland and the EU) | €600 |
Amounts follow the EU261 distance bands and are commonly paid in euros. A cancellation or bumping with re-routing that arrives close to the original time can be reduced by 50% in any band; for delays, only long-haul flights arriving 3 to 4 hours late. Figures are per passenger and illustrative until eligibility is verified.
How do you make a FOCA complaint?
- 1Note your original scheduled and actual arrival times at the final destination.
- 2Ask the airline, in writing, for the reason for the disruption.
- 3Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation.
- 4Keep receipts for meals, refreshments and a hotel.
- 5Check your eligibility and start a claim.
Which documents should you keep?
How do you claim?
- 1Enter your flight number and date to get a preliminary assessment.
- 2Add the journey details and any documents you have.
- 3We prepare and submit the claim to the airline and follow up.
- 4If compensation is recovered, you receive the airline's award and pay our fixed €39 fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does EU261 apply to flights from Switzerland?
Switzerland is not in the EU. Its air transport treaty with the EU still applies EC261-style rules to flights out of Swiss airports, so the cover is much the same.
How much compensation can I claim for a Swiss departure?
Comparable amounts to EU261, generally following the same distance bands of €250, €400 or €600 per passenger. The amount depends on flight distance, not ticket price.
What about flights arriving in Switzerland?
They are covered when an EU or Swiss airline flies you in, or when the flight departed from the EU. A flight from outside the EU on another airline is not covered, so check which airline operated it.
Who enforces air passenger rights in Switzerland?
The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) supervises airlines and takes complaints about them. It does not award you money, and it will not chase the airline for you. A FOCA complaint does put the refusal on the regulator's record, which counts if the case goes further.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — the regulation itself, in every EU language
Does your flight qualify?
Free in about 15 seconds. You receive the airline's compensation and pay only our fixed €39 fee after success.
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