Iberia Flight Delay Compensation

As an EU/EEA/Swiss-licensed carrier, Iberia falls under EU261 for every flight departing an EU/EEA/Swiss airport (regardless of destination), and for flights arriving in the EU/EEA/Switzerland from outside it. Flights departing UK airports fall under UK261.

Compensation amounts

Delay claims need arrival 3+ hours late at your final destination (CJEU Sturgeon line, retained in UK law). Cancellations: compensation depends on notice period and rerouting times — the free check applies the exact rules.

What Iberia will likely argue — and what actually counts

Airlines must prove "extraordinary circumstances" to refuse. Commonly accepted: severe weather (only when genuinely exceptional); air traffic control restrictions or decisions; strikes by airport staff, ATC or customs (not the airline's own staff); security risks or emergencies; airport closures; bird strikes (courts differ — worth arguing). Not extraordinary: technical problems with the aircraft; the airline's own crew or staff strikes; crew scheduling and unavailability; knock-on delays from an earlier flight of the same airline; overbooking.

Deadlines

For flights from England & Wales the limitation period is 6 years (Scotland: 5). EU countries vary from 1 year (rare) to 6 years — file early regardless. Airlines occasionally use Michaels/Weryński-style stop-the-clock arguments on long ATC strikes; courts have since restricted that tactic.

How to claim Iberia compensation

1. Run the free eligibility check — 60 seconds, exact statutory result.
2. Hand the case to ClaimPilot: we prepare the claim letter, file it with the airline's compensation channel, and chase every 14 days.
3. Refused wrongly? We escalate to the national enforcement body (e.g. CAA in the UK) and prepare your court pack.
4. You keep 85% — the airline pays you directly, then you pay our 15% fee. No win, no fee.

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Informational content, not legal advice. Amounts are the statutory fixed compensation. Updated 3 November 2026.