AIRLINE · UA · CAA DATA · MAY 2026 · UK 261 AND EC 261
United Airlines delays and cancellations: the record, and what the rules pay
The CAA's May 2026 punctuality statistics record 1,463 matched United Airlines flights at UK reporting airports. 1.69 percent were recorded more than 3 hours late, the line at which EC 261 and UK 261 compensation starts, and 12 flights were cancelled. Where compensation is due it is £220, £350 or £520 under UK 261 and €250, €400 or €600 under EC 261, fixed by distance, not by the airline.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
The United Airlines record at UK reporting airports, May 2026
| MEASURE | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Flights matched | 1,463 |
| Flights cancelled | 12 (0.81%) |
| More than 3 hours late | 1.69% |
| Two to three hours late | 1.35% |
| One to two hours late | 4.26% |
| Early or up to fifteen minutes late | 81.4% |
| Average delay | 15.6 minutes |
These figures describe one month of flying as a whole, recorded by the CAA. They are not evidence about any single flight: whether a claim exists depends on that flight's own delay at arrival and its cause. The CAA file does not state whether its bands were recorded at departure or arrival; the regulation measures delay at final-destination arrival.
Is a United Airlines delay under 3 hours compensated?
No. Cash compensation under both regimes starts at 3 hours late at the final destination. Shorter delays trigger the duty of care instead: under Art. 6 and Art. 9, meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the wait, from 2 hours on flights up to 1,500 km, plus accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary.
What is a United Airlines delay of 3 hours or more worth?
| DISTANCE BAND | EC 261 | UK 261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 |
Distance is measured great circle to the final ticketed destination. The airline does not pay where it proves an extraordinary circumstance under Art. 5(3) that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures; the burden of proving that sits on the airline, not on you.
What if United Airlines cancels the flight?
A cancellation carries two separate rights. Art. 8 gives the choice of a full refund within seven days or rerouting; Art. 7 compensation is additionally due unless the airline gave at least 14 days notice, or gave shorter notice with a replacement flight inside the departure and arrival windows of Art. 5(1)(c). Accepting the refund or the rerouting does not waive the compensation.
Where United Airlines flew in the May 2026 data
| REPORTING AIRPORT | TO / FROM | MATCHED FLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | New York (Newark) | 429 |
| London Heathrow | San Francisco | 186 |
| London Heathrow | Chicago (O'Hare) | 182 |
| London Heathrow | Houston | 124 |
| London Heathrow | Washington (Dulles) | 124 |
| London Heathrow | Denver International | 122 |
| Edinburgh | Chicago (O'Hare) | 62 |
| Edinburgh | New York (Newark) | 62 |
ROUTE RECORDS WITH A PUBLISHED PAGE
What happened on your United Airlines flight?
United Airlines claims: common questions
How long do I have to claim against United Airlines?
The time limit follows the courts responsible for the route, not the airline: 6 years for departures from England and Wales, and from 1 year to 10 years across the EU and EEA forums in our published limitation map. The free check applies the limit that fits your route.
United Airlines said the cause was extraordinary circumstances. Is that final?
No. Under Art. 5(3) the airline has to prove the specific circumstance and that it could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. The Court of Justice has rejected that defence for technical faults and for strikes by an airline's own staff, while weather and air traffic control restrictions generally do qualify.
Does it matter what my United Airlines ticket cost?
No. Where compensation is due it is fixed by flight distance, not by the fare: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger under EC 261, £220, £350 or £520 under UK 261.
Is United Airlines's punctuality record evidence for my claim?
Not directly. The CAA statistics on this page describe one month of flying as a whole. Compensation turns on a flight's own arrival delay and its cause, so the record shows how common a claim-line delay was, nothing more.
What do I need to check a United Airlines flight?
A booking reference or confirmation email is enough to start. Boarding passes and receipts help later, and can be added after the check.
CONTAINS DATA FROM THE UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY PUNCTUALITY STATISTICS.
SOURCES
- UK Civil Aviation Authority punctuality statistics, full analysis (monthly CSV) · UK Civil Aviation Authority · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 5(3) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/278), reg. 8 · legislation.gov.uk · checked 7 August 2026
- Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07 Sturgeon v Condor, judgment of 19 November 2009 (ECLI:EU:C:2009:716) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
THE RULINGS AIRLINES CITE, AND THE ONES PASSENGERS CITE
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