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UK261 vs EU261
After Brexit, the UK retained EU Regulation 261/2004 in domestic law — commonly called UK261. The rights are almost identical; the main difference is that amounts are in pounds.
| Your flight | Rules |
|---|---|
| UK → Canaries, any airline | UK261 (and EU261 too if the airline is an EU carrier) |
| Canaries → UK, any airline | EU261 (and UK261 too if the airline is a UK or EU carrier) |
| Dublin ↔ Canaries, any airline | EU261 |
You can't be paid twice for the same disruption. Ryanair, Aer Lingus and easyJet Europe are EU carriers; Jet2, TUI Airways, easyJet UK and British Airways are UK carriers.
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (and intra-EU flights over 1,500 km) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | €600 |
Almost every flight between the UK or Ireland and the Canary Islands is between 2,500 and 3,300 km, so the usual amount is £350 (UK261) or €400 (EU261) per passenger, including children with their own seat.
Claiming yourself (free)
Write to the airline with your booking reference, flight number, date and what happened, and ask for the fixed compensation under UK261 or EU261. If they refuse or don't reply within 8 weeks, escalate: UK airlines usually belong to an ADR scheme (e.g. AviationADR or CEDR); otherwise the UK CAA can help. For flights departing Spain (including the Canaries) you can complain to AESA, and in Ireland to the Aviation Regulator.
Using a claims company
If you don't want the hassle, a company like AirHelp handles it on a no-win, no-fee basis. You get less money (they keep a fee), but they deal with the airline and, if needed, the courts.
Last reviewed 20 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.