Turkish Airlines compensation: how to claim
Turkish Airlines is registered in Türkiye — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Türkiye (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Istanbul (IST)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Turkish Airlines is registered in Türkiye — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from Türkiye or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Turkish Airlines is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Turkish Airlines handles claims
Turkish Airlines is NOT an EU or UK carrier, and this matters enormously. A flight from London or Frankfurt to Istanbul is covered, because it departs the UK or EU. A flight from Istanbul back to London or Frankfurt is NOT covered by UK261 or EU261, because the carrier is not a UK or EU one. Half of any round trip is protected and half is not.
Istanbul is a connecting hub to Asia and Africa. On the outbound from Europe, a missed connection at Istanbul on a single booking is measured at your final destination and will usually be a €600 or £520 claim.
Türkiye has its own passenger rights regulation (SHY-Passenger) which can cover the return leg. It is a separate scheme with different amounts and we do not draft for it.
Their responses are generally prompt by the standards of the region.
What a delay on Turkish Airlines is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Istanbul (IST) | 2,489 km | UK261 | £350 |
| Istanbul (IST) → London (LHR) | 2,489 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Istanbul (IST) | 2,214 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Istanbul (IST) → Paris (CDG) | 2,214 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Turkish Airlines, by what happened
- Turkish Airlines: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Turkish Airlines: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Turkish Airlines: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Turkish Airlines: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Turkish Airlines flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Turkish Airlines yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Turkish Airlines: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Turkish Airlines?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Turkish Airlines is registered in Türkiye — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Turkish Airlines have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Turkish Airlines?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Turkish Airlines?
Turkish Airlines takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Türk Hava Yolları A.O., Customer Relations, Genel Yönetim Binası, Yeşilköy, 34149 Bakırköy, İstanbul, Türkiye. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Turkish Airlines flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.