ANSWER · UK 261 AND EC 261

Why is long haul delay compensation sometimes halved?

Art. 7(2) allows a 50% reduction above 3,500 km where the passenger is re-routed and the arrival delay stays inside the shorter window. On those flights the €600 band pays €300 under EC 261 and the £520 band pays £260 under UK 261. Beyond that window the full amount applies.

REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026

The reduction in figures

WHERE THE REDUCTION APPLIES
SITUATION	EC 261	UK 261
Over 3,500 km, arriving 3 to 4 hours late	€300	£260
Over 3,500 km, arriving 4+ hours late	€600	£520

Art. 7(2) allows a 50% reduction above 3,500 km where the passenger is re-routed and the arrival delay stays inside the shorter window. Percentages and the distance come from the rule set.

Which flights the reduction can touch

Only the top distance band, above 3,500 km. Below that distance the reduction has no application, so a delayed short haul or medium haul flight over the 3 hour line carries €250 or €400 under EC 261, and £220 or £350 under UK 261, without a halving step.

A common misreading

Rejection letters sometimes apply the reduction to any flight the airline re-routed. The provision is written into Art. 7(2) by distance band, and the reduction attaches to the longest band only.

Because our engine holds the bands and the modifier as data, the figure shown by the free check is produced by applying those rules rather than by reading a table off a page.

THE JUDGMENTS BEHIND THIS ANSWER

Sturgeon, C-402/07 and C-432/072009

SOURCES

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(2) · 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