Emirates Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations

Yurii Moskalenko
08.08.2024
Updated 05.05.2025

Passengers of Emirates who have experienced a flight cancellation or delay are legally entitled to compensation. According to EU 261/2004, an airline is obliged to compensate passengers when there is a significant disruption. Here, we will look at your rights and the steps you need to take to receive the compensation you have a right to from the airline.

Emirates Flight Delay or Cancellation Compensation

Before claiming the Emirates compensation, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you may expect to get in the event of delay or flight cancellation.

Emirates Compensation for Flight Delay

According to UK and EU laws, passengers are eligible for up to €600 in compensation per person if their flight experiences a delay. It’s crucial to note that this flight delay compensation is based on the flight’s landing time, not the departure time, so the key to your claim hinges on the actual time you reach your final destination.

Here’s an overview of how much compensation you may receive if your flight is delayed. The amount of compensation is determined by various criteria, including the duration of the delay and the distance of your flight:

Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance
€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km
€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Remember you may not always receive compensation for every flight delay. Emirates is not obliged to provide compensation when extraordinary circumstances outside their control arise. This includes bad weather, problems at the airport, or a strike by air traffic controllers. In such situations, you will generally not be given compensation as it is not the airline’s fault.

Emirates Compensation for Flight Cancellation

EU 261 states that airlines have to inform passengers of flight cancellations at least 14 days before the scheduled flight. If the airline doesn’t provide timely notification, you could qualify for flight cancellation compensation ranging from €250 to €600 per passenger, based on the flight distance. Nevertheless, if the airline provides you with an alternate flight, it could potentially avoid compensation for the cancelled flight if the following conditions are met:

Advance NoticeRe-routing Requirements
14 DaysNone
7 – 13 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight
Less than 7 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight

Even when accepting a different flight, passengers retain their claim for compensation if they still experience significant delays at their final destination. The amount of compensation is determined according to two criteria: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay, according to the table provided below:

Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance
€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less
€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Emirates doesn’t have to compensate you if they provide an alternative flight that departs and arrives near the same time as your original flight. Also, you usually won’t receive compensation if the flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond the airline’s control, such as adverse weather conditions or when airline staff goes on strike.

Are Emirates Flights Covered By EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends to flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Nevertheless, Emirates is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged to pay you compensation if their flights operate outside of Europe. This applies even to their flights to Europe if they start outside the EU.

ItineraryCovered by EU 261
Flights departing from EU airports✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at EU airports❌ No

How to Claim Compensation from Emirates

If your travel plans have been affected by a flight cancellation or delay with Emirates, it’s important to be aware that you might be entitled to compensation under EU laws. For this reason, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the process of claiming compensation. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
  • Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws well and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

These steps will assist you in filing your claim quickly and improve your chances of receiving the compensation you’re entitled to. You might have plenty of time after your flight to submit a claim, but it’s best to complete it as soon as you can while you still remember all the details.

What You Can Get Besides EU Flight Compensation

Emirates goes the additional mile to help passengers during travel interruptions by offering services that complement flight compensation.

Right to Care

When flight disruptions occur, Emirates is committed to ensuring passenger comfort through the Right to Care provision. The right, established under EU 261, becomes applicable when flight delays exceed two hours. The services provided include:

  • Meals and Refreshments: Passengers are provided with meals and beverages appropriate to the length of delay. This may include vouchers for airport restaurants or direct distribution of snacks and drinks.
  • Communication: Emirates offers two free phone calls, emails, or fax messages to keep passengers connected with family or business contacts.
  • Accommodation: If the delay extends for the night or requires an additional stay, Emirates provides hotel accommodation. This also covers transportation between the airport and the hotel.
  • Special Assistance: Extra care is given to passengers with reduced mobility or special needs.

To access these services, you can simply approach airline staff at the airport for immediate assistance.

Rebooking and Refunds

When Emirates cancels a flight, passengers can choose to get a full refund or rebook on a different flight. This option is essential for minimizing travel interruptions and supporting passengers to manage unforeseen circumstances effectively.

  • Full Refund: if you request a refund, you can get full reimbursement for the parts of your trip that you didn’t use, including any tickets you only partly used. Also, if the cancellation means your trip no longer serves its original purpose, you may get a flight back to where you first started at the earliest chance.
  • Rebooking: if you choose to continue your journey, Emirates shall provide rebooking on the next available flight to your destination. You also have the option to select an alternative route if there are seats available. If the next available flight is scheduled for the following day or later, Emirates will arrange accommodation and transfers as needed. Furthermore, you have the right to be rebooked, even in a higher class, at no additional cost to you if that’s the only available option.

It’s important to keep in mind some additional considerations. If you’re rebooked on a lower class than originally booked, you’re eligible for a partial refund of the cost difference. Additionally, if your booking involves connecting flights, Emirates shall help in rebooking your entire journey, not only the cancelled segment.

Whether opting for a refund or arranging a new flight, the procedures are designed to ensure this process as smooth as possible, understanding the stress and inconvenience caused by cancellations.

Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations

Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.

Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.

Date Flight number Route Status Compensation

07.07.202506:05

Emirates

5226

Hobart (HBA)

Sydney (SYD)

Cancelled

Claim Refund

06.07.202521:35

Emirates

5556

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202521:00

Emirates

435

Brisbane (BNE)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202520:40

Emirates

5086

Brisbane (BNE)

Darwin (DRW)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202520:20

Emirates

5074

Brisbane (BNE)

Cairns (CNS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202519:50

Emirates

5552

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202519:40

Emirates

5363

Sydney (SYD)

Hobart (HBA)

Cancelled

Claim Refund

06.07.202519:30

Emirates

503

Mumbai (BOM)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202519:20

Emirates

2322

Dubai (DXB)

Moscow (VKO)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202519:05

Emirates

5225

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:55

Emirates

7251

Balikpapan (BPN)

Jakarta (CGK)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:50

Emirates

5006

Brisbane (BNE)

Auckland (AKL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:35

Emirates

5546

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:30

Emirates

2027

Salalah (SLL)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:25

Emirates

5066

Brisbane (BNE)

Cairns (CNS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:20

Emirates

2260

Dubai (DXB)

Kolkata (CCU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:20

Emirates

2404

Dubai (DXB)

(GYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:15

Emirates

5545

Brisbane (BNE)

Sydney (SYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202518:10

Emirates

5544

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:35

Emirates

2148

Colombo (CMB)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:35

Emirates

810

Madinah (MED)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:25

Emirates

5311

Mount Isa (ISA)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:20

Emirates

5397

Mackay (MKY)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:20

Emirates

5385

Cairns (CNS)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202517:10

Emirates

5244

Brisbane (BNE)

Sydney (SYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:50

Emirates

2071

Erbil (EBL)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:40

Emirates

3931

Dusseldorf (DUS)

Palma Mallorca (PMI)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:35

Emirates

2201

Tbilisi (TBS)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:35

Emirates

2413

Batumi (BUS)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:25

Emirates

124

Istanbul (IST)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:20

Emirates

4081

Johannesburg (MQP)

Durban (DUR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:05

Emirates

5541

Brisbane (BNE)

Sydney (SYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:05

Emirates

2445

Basra (BSR)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:00

Emirates

724

Addis Ababa (ADD)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202516:00

Emirates

175

Dubai (DXB)

Saint Petersburg (LED)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:35

Emirates

2447

Kathmandu (KTM)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:25

Emirates

56

Dusseldorf (DUS)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:25

Emirates

2279

Dammam (DMM)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:15

Emirates

5539

Brisbane (BNE)

Sydney (SYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:10

Emirates

5141

Sydney (SYD)

Tamworth (TMW)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:05

Emirates

5597

Brisbane (BNE)

Perth (PER)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:00

Emirates

5392

Brisbane (BNE)

Mackay (MKY)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:00

Emirates

2354

Sochi (AER)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202515:00

Emirates

5677

Townsville (TSV)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:55

Emirates

3523

Dubai (DXB)

Casablanca (CMN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:50

Emirates

2166

Djibouti (JIB)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:40

Emirates

75

Dubai (DXB)

Paris (CDG)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:30

Emirates

4039

Hoedspruit (HDS)

Johannesburg (JNB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:30

Emirates

809

Dubai (DXB)

Madinah (MED)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:30

Emirates

19

Dubai (DXB)

Manchester (MAN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:20

Emirates

7563

Auckland (AKL)

Queenstown (ZQN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:20

Emirates

181

Dubai (DXB)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:20

Emirates

2477

Mombasa (MBA)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:20

Emirates

3476

Plaisance (MRU)

Antananarivo (TNR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:15

Emirates

5563

Brisbane (BNE)

Bundaberg (BDB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:15

Emirates

3

Dubai (DXB)

London (LHR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:15

Emirates

67

Dubai (DXB)

London (STN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:10

Emirates

5384

Brisbane (BNE)

Cairns (CNS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:10

Emirates

2075

Dubrovnik (DBV)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:00

Emirates

5164

Brisbane (BNE)

Mount Isa (ISA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:00

Emirates

5229

Brisbane (BNE)

Rockhampton (ROK)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202514:00

Emirates

2070

Dubai (DXB)

Erbil (EBL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:55

Emirates

2278

Dubai (DXB)

Dammam (DMM)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:40

Emirates

2141

Rome (BGY)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:20

Emirates

3940

Palma Mallorca (PMI)

Dusseldorf (DUS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:15

Emirates

2487

Riyadh (RUH)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:10

Emirates

2462

Dubai (DXB)

Sarajevo (SJJ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:10

Emirates

928

Cairo (CAI)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:05

Emirates

572

Dubai (DXB)

Kolkata (CCU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202513:05

Emirates

5560

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:50

Emirates

4008

Johannesburg (JNB)

Hoedspruit (HDS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:35

Emirates

5372

Perth (PER)

Learmonth (LEA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:35

Emirates

2455

Male (MLE)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:15

Emirates

5672

Brisbane (BNE)

Townsville (TSV)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:05

Emirates

5520

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:05

Emirates

2448

Dubai (DXB)

Tel Aviv Yafo (TLV)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202512:00

Emirates

9404

Tokyo (KIX)

Dubai (DWC)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202511:45

Emirates

2172

Mashad (MHD)

Dubai (DXB)

Cancelled

Claim Refund

06.07.202511:40

Emirates

5516

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202511:25

Emirates

4959

Kos (KGS)

Athens (ATH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202511:25

Emirates

72

Paris (CDG)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202511:15

Emirates

4164

Johannesburg (JNB)

Blantyre (BLZ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:35

Emirates

5319

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:30

Emirates

946

Basra (BSR)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:25

Emirates

5366

Brisbane (BNE)

Mackay (MKY)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:20

Emirates

5109

Melbourne (MEL)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:20

Emirates

5588

Hobart (HBA)

Melbourne (MEL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:15

Emirates

505

Mumbai (BOM)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:15

Emirates

775

Dubai (DXB)

Durban (DUR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:10

Emirates

2210

Dubai (DXB)

Male (MLE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202510:00

Emirates

380

Dubai (DXB)

Hong Kong (HKG)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:50

Emirates

2077

Al Najaf (NJF)

Dubai (DXB)

Cancelled

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:50

Emirates

516

Dubai (DXB)

New Delhi (DEL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:45

Emirates

652

Dubai (DXB)

Male (MLE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:45

Emirates

133

Dubai (DXB)

Moscow (DME)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:40

Emirates

2219

Asmara (ASM)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:30

Emirates

506

Dubai (DXB)

Mumbai (BOM)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:15

Emirates

3938

Palma Mallorca (PMI)

Dusseldorf (DUS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:15

Emirates

5513

Brisbane (BNE)

Sydney (SYD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

06.07.202509:10

Emirates

5510

Sydney (SYD)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund
Yurii Moskalenko
2296 articles
Yurii educates people about human rights and advocacy. He creates helpful materials for travelers to assert their rights. With certifications in law and economics, Yurii turns legal terms into simple, actionable advice. His travel experience gives him valuable insight into the challenges travelers face, helping him better understand their needs.

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