Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation
Turkish Airlines operates an international network through Istanbul. If your flight departed from an EU airport and arrived 3+ hours late, EU261 may apply depending on the route and circumstances. Check free in 60 seconds.
Check My Turkish Airlines Flight →EU261 coverage for Turkish Airlines — key rule
- ✅ EU airport departure (FRA, AMS, CDG, MAD…) → EU261 applies
- ❌ IST / SAW departure → EU261 does NOT apply (Turkish law applies)
Amsterdam–Istanbul is ~2,500 km, qualifying for €400 if departing Amsterdam.
How much can I claim from Turkish Airlines?
- 🛫 Short flights (under 1,500 km) — €250
- 🛫 Medium flights (1,500–3,500 km) — €400
- 🛫 Long-haul (over 3,500 km) — €600
Clairo caps its estimate at €400 when both ends of the route are EU/EEA/UK airports, mirroring the intra-Community cap in Article 7(1)(b); it only estimates €600 where one end lies outside that area. Long UK–EU routes sit at the edge of that cap, so treat the figure as an estimate and check the position for your route.
Does EU261 apply to Turkish Airlines?
EU261/2004 applies to Turkish Airlines flights only when departing from an EU/EEA airport. Turkey is not in the EU, so Turkish Airlines is a non-EU carrier. Flights from Istanbul (IST or SAW) to European destinations are NOT covered by EU261. However, if you departed from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, or any other EU/EEA airport on Turkish Airlines, EU261 fully applies.
How much can I claim from Turkish Airlines for an EU-departing flight delay?
EU261 distance bands are €250 for flights under 1,500 km, €400 for qualifying flights from 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for qualifying long-haul flights over 3,500 km. The route and circumstances determine the applicable amount. Article 7(1)(b) sets €400 for intra-Community flights over 1,500 km, so the €600 band applies only where one end of the route lies outside that area; Clairo treats EU/EEA and UK airports as inside it, and long UK–EU routes sit at the edge of the cap.
Turkish Airlines transits through Istanbul — does a connection delay count?
It depends on how the journey was booked and flown. Where the legs form a single booking that started at an EU/EEA airport, EU case law treats the itinerary as one journey and measures the delay at your final destination, so a connection missed because the EU-departing leg ran late can be relevant. Separate bookings are generally assessed leg by leg instead. Coverage also turns on the departure and arrival airports and on which carrier operated the leg that caused the delay, so check those facts before assuming the whole itinerary is covered.
What Turkish laws protect passengers flying from Istanbul?
Flights departing Istanbul fall outside EU261 and are instead covered by Turkish Regulation SHY-Yolcu, administered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Turkey (SHGM). It is a separate regime with its own scope, remedies and complaint process, so do not assume EU261 figures or procedures carry across. Check current SHGM guidance for what applies to your flight.
How long do I have to claim from Turkish Airlines?
Claim deadlines depend on the applicable jurisdiction. Check current official guidance for the route and preserve your booking, submission and disruption evidence promptly.
Common Turkish Airlines delay reasons that qualify
- ✅ Aircraft technical fault (EU-departing flight)
- ✅ Crew availability or scheduling issues at EU airports
- ✅ Late inbound aircraft from Istanbul causing EU-sector delay
- ✅ Missed connection at IST due to delayed EU-departing leg
- ❌ Istanbul ATC or airport congestion (may qualify as extraordinary)
- ❌ Severe weather at Istanbul or destination
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