Delayed and cancelled flights are the most frequent problems experienced by travelers. Luckily, the European Union has EU 261 regulation, which ensures that you, as a passenger, are not left in a difficult situation and that your rights are protected. The European Union Regulation 261/2004 defines the situations when passengers are eligible for compensation and assistance in cases of flight disruption.
In this article, you will discover everything you need to know about Regulation EU261 and in which situations you are entitled to compensation.
Passenger Rights under EU 261/2004
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers traveling to or from Helsinki Airport on flights operated by EU-based airlines have specific rights in case of significant cancellations or delays. These rights include:
- Food and drinks: Airlines must provide proper meals and refreshments during the waiting period.
- Access to means of communication: Passengers should be provided two free phone calls, emails, or faxes.
- Hotel accommodation if necessary: When an overnight stay is required, the airline is obligated to provide accommodation and transportation to and from the hotel.
- Ticket refund or alternative flight: Passengers can select from a full refund of their ticket or rebooking on an alternative flight to their final destination.
- Compensation: Depending on the flight distance and length of delay, passengers may be eligible for financial compensation between €250 to €600.
Helsinki Airport Flight Delay Compensation
Travelers experiencing flight delays at Helsinki Airport might be eligible for compensation of up to 600 euros per person, especially if the delay lasts longer than three hours. The eligibility for compensation is determined by the reason for the delay and whether it adheres to UK and EU regulations. The amount of compensation is based on the time of arrival at the destination rather than departure time and is influenced by the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay.
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
Keep in mind that airlines are not obligated to provide compensation for flight delays resulting from extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.
Helsinki Airport Flight Cancellation Compensation
In the event of a flight cancellation causing inconvenience at the Helsinki Airport, according to EU 261/2004, passengers may get compensation of up to €600 if the airline informs them of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.
Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this law. The airline may be exempt from compensating passengers if it provides an alternative flight that meets specific criteria, letting you arrive at your destination with the minimal delay possible:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Financial compensation might still be available even if you accept an alternative flight, provided your arrival at the final destination is significantly delayed. The compensation amount is calculated by the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. You can check the following table to figure out the compensation amount you are eligible for:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Keep in mind that airlines usually don’t offer compensation for flight cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes.
Which Helsinki Airport Flights are Covered by EU261?
When you’re departing from an airport in the European Union and traveling on an airline flight from the EU, you are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004. This regulation guarantees that you have certain rights in the event of a delay, flight cancellation, denied boarding, and other similar situations. Here’s a more detailed table of what situations are covered under EU Regulation 261 and which are not:
| Itinerary | EU Airline | Non-EU Airline |
| Departures from Helsinki Airport to anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Arrivals at Helsinki Airport from inside the EU | Yes | No |
| Arrivals at Helsinki Airport from outside the EU | Yes | No |
How to Claim Compensation from Helsinki Airport
Flight delays and cancellations often occur due to factors such as bad weather, air traffic congestion, technical problems, or crew shortages. If you experience a flight disruption at Helsinki Airport, you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.
To initiate your compensation claim, follow these steps:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Find your flight in the table below and use our claims checker to see if you are eligible for compensation.
Did not find your flight in our table? Fill in our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
17.07.202516:20 | Finnair 33 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202514:00 | Finnair 1019 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Ulemiste (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202514:00 | Finnair 517 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kemi/Tornio (KEM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202514:00 | British Airways 6011 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Ulemiste (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202514:00 | Juneyao Airlines 3254 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kemi/Tornio (KEM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202510:40 | Finnair 1015 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Ulemiste (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202509:20 | Airest 7004 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Ulemiste (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202508:24 | ASL Airlines Ireland 4267 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Ulemiste (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202508:05 | Scanwings | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Turku (TKU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202508:00 | Finnair 489 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kuusamo (KAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202517:35 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:25 | Finnair 945 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Tromso/langnes (TOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:25 | Qatar Airways 6163 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Tromso/langnes (TOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:25 | Jet Linx Aviation 9399 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Tromso/langnes (TOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:20 | Finnair 33 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:20 | AlphaSky 7613 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:20 | British Airways 6002 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:20 | Iberia 6465 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | AlphaSky 7687 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | British Airways 6057 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | Qatar Airways 6154 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | Iberia 6429 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | Finnair 535 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | Turkish Airlines 8297 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202516:00 | Juneyao Airlines 3228 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Rovaniemi (RVN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202511:00 | Finnair 573 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202519:15 | Finnair 577 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202519:15 | AlphaSky 7675 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202519:15 | Qatar Airways 6152 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202519:15 | Air France 4226 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:30 | Qantas 8239 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:30 | Jet Linx Aviation 6876 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:30 | British Airways 6091 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:25 | Finnair 5073 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:25 | British Airways 4625 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:25 | Iberia 7194 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:00 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202518:00 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202517:05 | Finnair 345 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202517:05 | Qatar Airways 6164 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 8969 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202516:20 | Jet Linx Aviation 8309 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202516:20 | Finnair 1437 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202516:20 | AlphaSky 7665 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202518:30 | British Airways 6091 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202518:30 | Qantas 8239 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202518:30 | Jet Linx Aviation 6876 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202517:35 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202517:05 | Qatar Airways 6164 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202517:05 | Finnair 345 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202516:20 | Finnair 33 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202516:20 | British Airways 6002 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202516:20 | AlphaSky 7613 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202516:20 | Iberia 6465 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202509:35 | Finnair 489 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kuusamo (KAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202517:05 | Qatar Airways 6164 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202517:05 | Finnair 345 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Joensuu (JOE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202516:20 | AlphaSky 7613 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202516:20 | Iberia 6465 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202516:20 | British Airways 6002 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202510:55 | Finnair 573 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202510:45 | Finnair 1165 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) John Paul II Balice International (KRK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:20 | Finnair 577 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:20 | AlphaSky 7675 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:20 | Qatar Airways 6152 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:20 | Air France 4221 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:25 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:25 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 6875 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Vaasa (VAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:10 | Qatar Airways 6149 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Vaasa (VAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:10 | Turkish Airlines 8289 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Vaasa (VAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:10 | Finnair 315 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Vaasa (VAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:10 | AlphaSky 7693 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Vaasa (VAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202515:55 | AlphaSky 7645 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kuusamo (KAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202515:55 | Finnair 487 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kuusamo (KAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202517:35 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:00 | Juneyao Airlines 3254 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kemi/Tornio (KEM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:00 | Finnair 517 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kemi/Tornio (KEM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202511:45 | North Flying | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Aalborg (AAL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202510:55 | Finnair 489 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kuusamo (KAO) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:50 | Qatar Airways 6152 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:50 | Air France 4221 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:50 | AlphaSky 7675 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:50 | Finnair 577 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kittila (KTT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202517:35 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:20 | AlphaSky 7613 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:20 | Finnair 33 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:20 | Iberia 6465 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:20 | British Airways 6002 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202517:35 | Finnair 415 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 6172 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) Kajaani (KAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202517:10 | Finnair 1163 | Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) John Paul II Balice International (KRK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
