Korean Air · EU261 · UK261 · APPR
Korean Air delay & cancellation compensation
You could be owed
€600
per passenger, set by law
Korean Air compensation calculator
Korean Air compensation calculator
At a glance
Which rules cover Korean Air
- ●Korean Air is based in South Korea, so EU261 covers its flights departing the EU (16 EU/EEA/Swiss airports in its network), not its flights into the EU.
- ●UK261 covers its flights departing the UK (1 UK airport in its network).
- ●Canada’s APPR covers its flights to, from and within Canada (4 Canadian airports).
- Based in
- South Korea
- EU/EEA/Swiss airports
- 16
- UK airports
- 1
- Canadian airports
- 4
Set by law
Korean Air compensation amounts
EU261
EU Regulation 261/2004
- Up to 1,500 km€250
- Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or 1,500–3,500 km€400
- Over 3,500 km€600
Covers flights departing the EU (any airline), and flights into the EU on an EU airline. Source: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights.
UK261
UK Regulation 261/2004 (UK261)
- Up to 1,500 km£220
- 1,500–3,500 km£350
- Over 3,500 km£520
Covers flights departing the UK (any airline), and flights into the UK on a UK or EU airline. Source: UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk).
APPR
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations
- Large airline, 3–6 h lateC$400
- Large airline, 6–9 h lateC$700
- Large airline, 9 h+ lateC$1,000
Covers flights to, from and within Canada, on any airline. Source: Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
Hour by hour
What Korean Air owes you, and when
- 2 h late
1. Care starts
Meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are delayed overnight (from 2 hours on short flights, 3–4 hours on longer ones).
- 3 h late
2. Cash compensation
Arrive 3 hours or more late for a reason within the airline’s control and you can claim a fixed amount per passenger.
- 5 h late
3. Refund option
Delayed 5 hours or more and no longer want to travel? You can ask for a refund and, if needed, a flight back to where you started.
Who pays
When Korean Air has to pay, and when it doesn’t
Korean Air usually has to pay for
- ✓Most technical problems with the aircraft
- ✓Strikes by the airline’s own staff
- ✓Overbooking (denied boarding)
Extraordinary circumstances (no cash)
- Bad weather that makes flying unsafe
- Air traffic control restrictions and decisions
- Security risks and political instability
- Strikes by staff outside the airline (for example, air traffic controllers)
Even then, the airline still owes you care (food, drinks, a hotel if needed) and a refund or rerouting for cancellations.
Two ways
How to claim from Korean Air
Free, do it yourself
Claim directly with Korean Air
- 1. Keep your boarding pass, booking reference and any receipts.
- 2. Ask staff in writing what caused the delay or cancellation.
- 3. Use Korean Air’s complaint or claim form on its website.
- 4. No answer in 2 months, or a refusal you disagree with? Complain to the national enforcement body, or use dispute resolution or small claims.
No win, no fee
Let a claims company handle it
- They check eligibility for free and chase Korean Air for you, including in court.
- They keep a share of the payout only if they win: check their fee before you start.
Good to know
Korean Air compensation: questions
How much compensation can I get from Korean Air?+
EU261: €250, €400, €600; UK261: £220, £350, £520; APPR: C$400, C$700, C$1,000, per passenger, depending on distance (or, under APPR, how late you arrive).
Does EU261 apply to Korean Air?+
Only on flights departing an EU/EEA/Swiss airport. Korean Air is based in South Korea, so its flights into the EU are not covered by EU261.
Can I claim if my Korean Air flight was cancelled?+
Usually, if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline’s control, unless you were rerouted close to your original times. You can also choose a refund or rerouting.
How do I claim compensation from Korean Air?+
Claim free through Korean Air’s complaint or claim form on its website, keeping your boarding pass and booking reference. If it refuses or doesn’t answer within 2 months, go to the national enforcement body, or use a no-win, no-fee service such as AirHelp.
What if Korean Air says it was extraordinary circumstances?+
Bad weather, air traffic control decisions and security risks are genuine exceptions. Most technical faults and strikes by the airline’s own staff are not, so ask for the reason in writing and challenge a refusal you think is wrong.
Other airlines based in South Korea
Rules and amounts from the official sources: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights; UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk); Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations. Korean Air’s airports from Wikipedia’s destination list; home country from Wikidata. Distances are straight-line. General information, not legal advice. AirConnect may earn a commission if you claim through our links, at no extra cost to you.