Under UK261 (the UK’s retained version of EU Regulation 261/2004), Ryanair delay compensation is fixed by flight distance: €250 (~£220) for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 (~£350) for flights of 1,500–3,500 km, and up to €600 (~£520) for flights over 3,500 km delayed by four or more hours. Your flight must have arrived at least three hours late at the final destination. Because the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes are short-haul, the average payout from a UK airport is €250. Ryanair does not have to pay when the delay is caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances (e.g. severe weather or ATC strikes), but CAA guidance confirms that routine technical faults and crew shortages do not qualify.

Ryanair has up to 28 days to respond to AviationADR once a complaint is filed. After that, AviationADR resolves most Ryanair complaints within an average of 30 days from receipt of the full file, and all cases within a maximum of 90 days, the statutory limit for CAA-approved ADR schemes. If you complained to Ryanair directly first, you should allow them up to eight weeks before escalating to AviationADR.

Yes. If Ryanair cancelled your flight with fewer than 14 days’ notice and the cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you can claim compensation under UK261 at the same €250–€600 amounts that apply to delays. Separately from compensation, you are entitled to choose between a full refund within 7 days or re-routing to your final destination — this is the passenger’s choice under UK261, not the airline’s. If Ryanair provided an alternative flight, the compensation may be reduced by 50% depending on how close the re-routed arrival was to the original. If Ryanair refuses your claim, AviationADR can adjudicate.

ADR stands for Alternative Dispute Resolution — an independent way to resolve disputes without going to court. AviationADR is the CAA-approved ADR scheme that handles unresolved Ryanair flight complaints for UK departures and arrivals. The process is simple: (1) complain to Ryanair in writing; (2) wait for their final response or for eight weeks to pass; (3) submit your complaint to AviationADR online, by phone on 0203 540 8063, or by post; (4) AviationADR contacts Ryanair for their side, reviews the evidence, and issues a decision. The service is free for passengers, and if you accept the outcome it is legally binding on Ryanair.

No. You don’t need a solicitor or a claims management company to claim Ryanair compensation under UK261. You can complain to Ryanair directly for free, and if they refuse or don’t resolve the matter within eight weeks you can escalate to AviationADR at no cost. Claims companies and no-win-no-fee solicitors typically charge 25–35% of your compensation plus VAT; on a £350 claim that’s over £100 taken from your payout. AviationADR is CAA-approved, impartial, and its decisions are binding on Ryanair, so using a paid representative rarely adds value for a straightforward UK261 claim.