Denied boarding
- Call for volunteers before denying boarding and compensate passengers if denied involuntarily Operator
Retained EU Law
2004
United Kingdom
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (compensation and assistance to air passengers)
At a glance
What's here
10 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Operator 9
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Cancellation
- Offer assistance and compensation when you cancel a flight Operator
Delay
- Offer assistance to passengers on delayed flights Operator
Right to compensation
- Pay compensation to passengers for denied boarding, cancellation or delay Operator
Right to reimbursement or re-routing
- Offer reimbursement or re-routing to entitled passengers Operator
Right to care
- Provide care to passengers when required (meals, accommodation, communication) Operator
Upgrading and downgrading
- Reimburse passengers for involuntary downgrading within 7 days Operator
Persons with reduced mobility or special needs
- Prioritise passengers with reduced mobility, service dogs, and unaccompanied children Operator
Obligation to inform passengers of their rights
- Inform passengers of their rights regarding compensation and assistance Operator
Infringements
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must enforce air passenger rights and handle complaints Statutory regulator
Browse 9 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Subject
Definitions
Scope
Further compensation
Right of redress
Exclusion of waiver
Report
Repeal
Entry into force
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Guidance on consumer law for airlines and airports | UK Civil Aviation Authority (opens in a new tab) from CAA Detailed Guidance
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.