ANSWER · EC 261
Is a schedule change the same as a cancellation?
Not necessarily. The Court of Justice drew the lines on 21 December 2021 in two judgments: a flight postponed by less than three hours with nothing else changed is a delay, not a cancellation (Corendon), while a flight brought forward by more than one hour is a cancellation (Laudamotion). A flight moved to different original planning altogether is a cancellation on ordinary principles.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
The sorting rules
| WHAT CHANGED | HOW THE REGULATION TREATS IT |
|---|---|
| Departure postponed by under 3 hours, same flight otherwise | Delay: compensation only if arrival is 3+ hours late |
| Departure brought forward by more than 1 hour | Cancellation: notice windows and compensation apply |
| Brought forward by 1 hour or less | Negligible: not a cancellation |
| Moved to a flight with different original planning | Cancellation |
Why the direction of the change matters
A later departure costs you time at the far end, which the delay rules already price at 3 hours. An earlier departure can cost you the flight itself, which is why the Court treated it as the more serious change.
THE JUDGMENTS BEHIND THIS ANSWER
SOURCES
- Case C-395/20 EP and GM v Corendon Airlines, judgment of 21 December 2021 (ECLI:EU:C:2021:1041) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Case C-263/20 Airhelp v Laudamotion, judgment of 21 December 2021 (ECLI:EU:C:2021:1039) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 2(l) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
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