London to Brussels flight compensation

Which rules apply on this direction

Flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Brussels Airport (BRU) depart the United Kingdom, so UK261 (retained Regulation 261/2004) applies to every airline that operates the route. The great-circle distance is 350 km (up to 1,500 km), which puts the fixed compensation at £220 per passenger for a delay of three hours or more at arrival, a cancellation announced less than 14 days ahead without a close replacement, or involuntary denied boarding.

Whatever the cause, care starts earlier than compensation on this short-distance flight: after 2 hours of delay at London Heathrow Airport the airline owes meals and communication, and after 5 hours you may abandon the trip and demand a refund of the unused ticket.

Airlines on the route and whether they are covered

• Brussels Airlines (SN, EU/EEA licence): covered on this direction (UK261 applies to every airline departing the United Kingdom).

• British Airways (BA, UK licence): covered on this direction (UK261 applies to every airline departing the United Kingdom). Member of CEDR Aviation.

Departing from London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow operates at close to full runway capacity, so weather and air-traffic flow restrictions turn into delays and “capacity” cancellations faster than at any other UK airport. A general reference to restrictions at Heathrow is not a defence: the airline has to show the restriction that applied to your flight.

Heathrow is British Airways’ hub; on a single booking through Heathrow the delay is measured at the final destination and the distance band covers the whole journey.

Airport guides: London Heathrow Airport · Brussels Airport — the causes airlines cite at each end, the enforcement body, and the other routes with their own page.

Return direction

The return, Brussels → London, departs Belgium, so it falls under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 (EU261) on every airline instead of UK261 (retained Regulation 261/2004): €250 per passenger.

The two directions are paid in different currencies: pounds on this leg, euros on the return.

Escalation also moves to Belgium: complaints go to FPS Mobility and Transport — Passenger Rights (Belgium) rather than UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); there is no country-wide dispute-resolution scheme, only whatever scheme the airline itself belongs to; the limitation period for a court claim is 2 years instead of 6 years; a court claim is brought before the Justice de paix / Vredegerecht.

Where to escalate

Claim from the airline first. If it refuses or does not answer, the competent enforcement body for this direction is UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (United Kingdom). Approved ADR schemes: AviationADR (https://www.aviationadr.org.uk — Ryanair, easyJet, TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air and others) and CEDR (https://www.cedr-assist.com/consumer/aviation/ — British Airways, BA CityFlyer, Cathay Pacific, SAS). Airlines not in a scheme, including Jet2: CAA Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).

The United Kingdom also has an approved dispute-resolution scheme, AviationADR, whose decisions bind the airline. Free for passengers. Open the case online once the airline has given its final answer or eight weeks have passed without one.

Court claims in the United Kingdom are subject to a limitation period of 6 years (Limitation Act 1980, s. 5 (England and Wales; six years). Scotland: five years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.).

A court claim goes to the County court — Money Claim Online (small claims track). Claims up to £10,000 on the small claims track; court fee recoverable if you win.

About this route

Brussels–Heathrow is a short business route. Belgian law gives two years from the flight to sue (Article X.49 of the Code of Economic Law), and the FPS Mobility complaint service can take months to process a file, so departures from Brussels should be claimed promptly.