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What Are Your Rights When a Flight Lands at an Alternative Airport?

Understanding the Court of Justice ruling in WZ v Austrian Airlines (C-826/19) when your flight lands at Gatwick instead of Heathrow, or Girona instead of Barcelona.

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Key Statutory Rules & Public Aviation Law Summary

Understanding the Court of Justice ruling in WZ v Austrian Airlines (C-826/19) when your flight lands at Gatwick instead of Heathrow, or Girona instead of Barcelona.

  • Under Article 8(3) of EC 261/2004 and UK261 (and WZ v Austrian Airlines C-826/19), when a flight is diverted to an airport other than the one on your booking, the airline must bear the full cost of transferring you to the original destination airport (or another close-by destination agreed with you).
  • Furthermore, the 3-hour arrival delay clock for €250–€600 / £220–£520 compensation only stops when you actually reach the original ticketed destination airport (or agreed final destination) via that ground transfer!
Related Statutory Passenger Guides:

Public Statutory Information Disclaimer: AeroStatute provides general public educational information regarding Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, UK261, the Montreal Convention 1999, Canada APPR, and US DOT regulations. This tool does not provide formal legal advice or act as a law firm.

Global Statutory Compensation Tiers at a Glance

International air passenger compensation is governed by strict statutory instruments rather than airline goodwill. Depending on your route and operating carrier, the following statutory regimes generally apply:

Statute / Regime Applicable Flights Indicative Statutory Tier Typical Time Limit
EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 Departing any EU/EEA/Swiss airport (any airline), or arriving in EU/EEA on an EU carrier €250 (≤1,500 km)
€400 (1,500–3,500 km)
€600 (>3,500 km)		 1 to 5+ years (varies by EU Member State law, e.g., 3 yrs Germany, 5 yrs France/Spain)
UK261 (Retained EU Law) Departing any UK airport (any airline), or arriving in the UK on a UK/EU carrier £220 (≤1,500 km)
£350 (1,500–3,500 km)
£520 (>3,500 km)		 Up to 6 years in England, Wales & Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland)
Montreal Convention 1999 International flights between 135+ signatory countries (including US, UK, EU, SA, UAE, AU, CA) Up to 1,288 SDR (~€1,600 / ~$1,700 USD / ~£1,350) for baggage; up to 5,346 SDR for proven financial delay damages 7 days (damaged bag notice)
21 days (delayed bag notice)
2 years (court limitation)
Canada APPR & Brazil ANAC 400 Flights to, from, or within Canada (APPR) or Brazil (ANAC 400) $400–$1,000 CAD (Canada APPR)
Material assistance + statutory remedies (Brazil)		 1 year (Canada CTA filing)
2–5 years (Brazil)

Fast-Track Flight & Baggage Claim Verification (No-Win, No-Fee)

Already know your flight number and want to check official radar/ATC logs or submit a no-win, no-fee statutory claim immediately? Use one of the global aviation claim portals below:

✈️ Check Flight Delay / Cancellation (AirHelp) → 🌍 Check EU261 / UK261 / ANAC Claim (Compensair) → 🧳 Check Montreal Convention Baggage Claim →

Public Statutory Guides & Jurisdiction Rules

Browse our library of statutory passenger guides covering specific routes, connecting flight rules, extraordinary circumstances case law, and country-by-country limitation periods:

EU261 Flight Delay Compensation Rules: €250, €400 & €600 TiersHow Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 calculates statutory compensation of €250, €400, or €600 per passenger when a fligh... UK261 Statutory Compensation (£220–£520) & 6-Year Limitation PeriodPublic guide to UK261 retained air passenger rights for flights departing UK airports or operated by UK carriers (B... Montreal Convention Checked Baggage Compensation (Up to 1,288 SDR / ~$1,700)Understanding Articles 17, 22, and 31 of the Montreal Convention 1999 for delayed, lost, or damaged checked luggage... Johannesburg & Cape Town to UK/Europe Flight Delay Rules (€600 / £520)How South African and international passengers flying between OR Tambo (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT) and London, Frankfu... Missed Connecting Flights on a Single Booking Reference (PNR)Why even a 40-minute delay on your first flight can trigger €600 / £520 compensation if you miss a connecting fligh... Why Routine Aircraft Technical Problems Are Eligible for EU261 / UK261 PayoutsAirlines frequently reject claims by blaming 'unexpected technical defects.' Under binding Court of Justice precede... When Do Strikes Qualify for €250–€600 Flight Compensation?Understanding the difference between internal airline pilot/cabin crew strikes (eligible under Krüsemann C-195/17 &... How Long Do You Have to Claim Flight Delay Compensation in Each Country?Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 leaves limitation periods to national law (More v KLM C-139/11). Compare statutory dead... British Airways Delay, Missed Connection & Cancellation Statutory RightsHow UK261 and EC 261/2004 apply to British Airways short-haul and long-haul flights through London Heathrow (LHR) a... Lufthansa Delay, Cancellation & Missed Connection Rights under EC 261/2004Statutory rules for Lufthansa passengers delayed 3+ hours or missing connections at Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC)... KLM (Amsterdam Schiphol) & Air France (Paris CDG) EU261 Compensation RulesHow EC 261/2004 applies to KLM and Air France long-haul and connecting flights through Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and... When Non-EU Airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Turkish, SAA, Delta) Must Pay €600 / £520Many passengers don't realize that non-EU/non-UK airlines are strictly bound by EC 261/2004 and UK261 whenever the ... Low-Cost Carrier Statutory Rights: Doesn't Matter If Your Ticket Cost €19!Under EC 261/2004 and UK261, statutory compensation (€250–€400 / £220–£350) is fixed by law and does not depend on ... US Domestic & Transatlantic Passenger Rights: US DOT Rules vs EC 261/2004 & Montreal ConventionHow American and international travellers can claim mandatory US DOT automatic cash refunds, Montreal Convention in... Canada APPR Statutory Compensation ($400 to $1,000 CAD) & 1-Year Claim WindowPublic guide to Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (SOR/2019-150) for flights to, from, and within Canad... Cancelled Flight Compensation Matrix (7–14 Days vs Under 7 Days Notice)When a cancelled flight triggers €250–€600 / £220–£520 compensation in addition to a full ticket refund or reroutin... Involuntary Cabin Class Downgrade Statutory Reimbursement (30%, 50% or 75%)What happens if an airline downgrades you from First, Business, or Premium Economy to a lower cabin class—and why '... Delayed Checked Luggage Rules under the Montreal Convention (Article 17 & 31)Step-by-step statutory rules when your suitcase doesn't arrive on the carousel: filing a PIR at the airport, what r... How to Claim for a Broken or Damaged Suitcase Within the 7-Day Statutory WindowWhy airlines reject damaged luggage claims after 7 days, and how Article 17(2) and Article 31(2) of the Montreal Co... Bumped From an Overbooked Flight? Your Immediate Statutory Cash RightsWhy you should never accept a small airline voucher before checking your statutory Denied Boarding rights (€250–€60... Fluggastrechte bei Flugverspätung ab 3 Stunden & Annullierung (EG 261/2004)Öffentlicher Leitfaden zur EU-Fluggastrechteverordnung (EG) Nr. 261/2004: Wann Ihnen 250 €, 400 € oder 600 € pro Pe... Vos Droits en Cas de Vol Retardé de 3h+, Annulé ou Correspondance Manquée (CE 261/2004)Guide public sur le Règlement européen (CE) n° 261/2004 et la Convention de Montréal : barème de 250 €, 400 € et 60... Derechos del Pasajero Aéreo: Retrasos de 3+ Horas, Cancelaciones y Equipaje (CE 261/2004)Guía pública sobre el Reglamento (CE) 261/2004 y el Convenio de Montreal: cómo reclamar entre 250 € y 600 € por pas... Hoe Suid-Afrikaners tot €600 / £520 (~R12,000) vir Vertraagde Internasionale Vlugte Kan EisOpenbare statutêre gids vir reisigers vanaf Johannesburg (JNB) en Kaapstad (CPT) na Londen, Frankfurt, Amsterdam en... Virgin Atlantic UK261 & EU261 Statutory Compensation (£220–£520)How UK261 applies to all Virgin Atlantic flights departing or arriving in the UK from the US, Caribbean, South Afri... US Airlines Departing Europe or the UK: When €600 / £520 Statutory Payouts ApplyWhy US carriers (Delta, United, American Airlines, JetBlue) are legally required to pay €600 / £520 when a flight d... TAP Air Portugal EU261 & ANAC 400 Statutory Compensation RulesClaiming up to €600 for delayed or cancelled TAP Air Portugal flights and missed connections at Lisbon Humberto Del... Does EC 261/2004 Apply to Switzerland and SWISS Flights?How the EU–Switzerland Air Transport Agreement applies Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 to Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA)... Spanish EU261 Statutory Rights (€250–€600) & 5-Year Limitation PeriodHow EC 261/2004 applies to Iberia, Vueling, and Air Europa flights through Madrid-Barajas (MAD) and Barcelona-El Pr... Aer Lingus EU261 Statutory Compensation (€250–€600) & Ireland's 6-Year LimitPublic guide to Aer Lingus delays, cancellations, and missed transatlantic connections at Dublin (DUB) and Shannon ... Nordic & Central European Carrier Rules (Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Warsaw)How Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to Finnair, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian, and LOT Polish Airlines, ... Claiming Up to €600 Against Turkish Airlines under EU261, UK261 & Turkish SHY-PASSWhen Turkish Airlines is bound by EU261/UK261 (all departures from EU/UK airports) and how Turkey's domestic SHY-PA... Comparing EU261/UK261 (€600 / £520) vs Canada APPR ($400–$1,000 CAD) on Canadian RoutesWhen both European/UK and Canadian passenger statutes overlap on transatlantic flights, passengers can choose the m... Are Charter & All-Inclusive Package Holiday Flights Covered by €250–€600 / £220–£520?Article 3(5) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and UK261 explicitly includes charter flights and flights sold as part ... When Your Tracker Shows Where Your Bag Is, But the Airline Hasn't Delivered ItHow the Montreal Convention 21-day rule works even if an AirTag shows your bag sitting in an airport warehouse—once... Claiming Equipment Rental Costs & Damage under the Montreal Convention (1,288 SDR)If an airline delays your checked sports gear or musical instrument on a trip, reasonable rental fees at your desti... Strict Airline Liability for Wheelchairs, Mobility Aids & Pushchairs (US DOT, EU1107 & Montreal)Special statutory protections when an airline damages or delays a wheelchair, mobility device, or child stroller—in... Montreal Convention Mitigation & Essential Purchases Rules for Cruises, Weddings & Business TripsWhy airlines must reimburse formalwear rentals/purchases or forward bags to the next port of call when checked lugg... Stop Airlines From Blaming Each Other: Montreal Convention Article 36 Joint LiabilityWhen you fly on two different airlines on a connecting ticket and your bag is lost, both airlines often point finge... What Are Your Rights When a Flight Lands at an Alternative Airport?Understanding the Court of Justice ruling in WZ v Austrian Airlines (C-826/19) when your flight lands at Gatwick in... Departure Time vs Door-Opening Arrival Time (Germanwings v Henning C-452/13)Airlines sometimes claim a flight 'departed on time' because it pushed back from the gate before sitting on the tar... Every Ticketed Child and Infant (Even on a 10% Lap Fare) Qualifies for Full CompensationOne of the biggest myths in air travel: parents often forget to claim an extra €250–€600 / £220–£520 for their infa... Why the Passenger Who Suffered the Delay (Not the Employer Who Bought the Ticket) Owns the ClaimIf your company paid for your business trip ticket and your flight was delayed 3+ hours, who is legally entitled to... Why Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) Cannot Block Your Statutory Claim Against the AirlineAirlines sometimes tell passengers who booked through a third-party travel website to 'contact your travel agent.' ... Early Departure Schedule Changes Trigger €250–€600 Compensation (ECJ Azubeli Ruling)Most travellers only think about late flights—but if an airline reschedules your flight to depart more than 1 hour ... Indemnização até 600 € (CE 261/2004), Convenção de Montreal (1.288 DES) e Resolução ANAC 400Guia público para passageiros em Portugal e no Brasil sobre voos atrasados 3+ horas, cancelamentos, perda de ligaçã... Uw Wettelijke Passagiersrechten bij 3+ Uur Vertraging, Gemiste Overstap of Vertraagde BagageOpenbare gids over Verordening (EG) nr. 261/2004 en het Verdrag van Montreal voor reizigers vanaf Amsterdam Schipho... Diritti del Passeggero Aereo per Ritardo, Cancellazione, Coincidenza Persa e Bagaglio SmarritoGuida pubblica al Regolamento (CE) n. 261/2004 e alla Convenzione di Montreal per i passeggeri in partenza o arrivo... Claiming €600 (~R12,000) on Frankfurt (FRA) to South Africa Routes under EC 261/2004How Germany's 3-year year-end prescription period (§ 195 BGB) and Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protect passengers fl... Why Airlines Must Pay for Your Hotel, Airport Transfers & Meals Even During Bad WeatherEven when a flight is cancelled due to snowstorms, fog, volcanic ash, or ATC strikes, Article 9 of EC 261/2004 and ...