Geneva to London flight compensation
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Quick answer
Geneva to London Heathrow is a short-haul route of roughly 750 km: compensation is €250 per passenger. Because the flight departs Switzerland, Regulation 261/2004 applies through the EU–Swiss agreement on every airline. Cancellation and denied-boarding compensation apply exactly as in the EU; delay compensation is paid in practice but ultimately depends on the Swiss courts.
Great-circle distance
754 km
Geneva Airport (GVA) → London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Compensation band: Up to 1,500 km
Fixed compensation
€250
€250 per passenger
Applicable rules: Swiss passenger rights (Reg. 261/2004 via the EU–CH agreement)
Example
A passenger arriving 3+ hours late at London on a covered flight could claim €250 per passenger.
If the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure without a close alternative, the same €250 applies.
- SWISScovered on this direction· Swiss licence
- British Airwayscovered on this direction· UK licence· CEDR Aviation
- easyJetcovered on this direction· UK licence· AviationADR
- easyJet Switzerlandcovered on this direction· Swiss licence
Departing from Geneva Airport
Geneva sits against the French border and its approaches use French airspace, so French ATC action affects it directly. Cancellation and denied-boarding rights on departure are certain; long-delay compensation is applied in practice but ultimately depends on how a Swiss court reads the EU case law.
Direction matters
- Geneva → London
- Swiss passenger rights (Reg. 261/2004 via the EU–CH agreement) · €250 · any airline
- London → Geneva
- UK261 (UK passenger rights) · £220 · any airline
What changes on the return leg
| Applicable rules | Swiss passenger rights (Reg. 261/2004 via the EU–CH agreement) | UK261 (UK passenger rights) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed compensation | €250 | £220 |
| Enforcement body | Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA / BAZL) | UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) |
| Dispute-resolution scheme | no country-wide scheme | AviationADR |
| Time limit for a court claim | 2 years | 6 years |
| Court | Civil court (simplified procedure) after the conciliation authority | County court — Money Claim Online (small claims track) |
The two directions are governed by different rules: the departure country decides which regime applies, and a flight from outside Europe is only covered when the operating airline is licensed in the EU/EEA, the UK or Switzerland.
Delay, cancellation or missed connection on this direction
- Delayed
- €250 per passenger is due when at least one door opens at London Heathrow Airport three hours or more after the scheduled arrival; the departure delay at Geneva Airport does not count. From 2 hours of delay the airline owes meals and communication whatever the cause, and from 5 hours you may abandon the trip for a refund.
- Cancelled
- The same €250 per passenger is due when the airline told you less than 14 days before departure and did not re-route you within the legal windows (at most 2 hours early and under 4 hours late with 7–14 days’ notice; 1 hour and 2 hours under 7 days). A refund or re-routing, and care while you wait, are due in every case.
- Missed connection
- If London Heathrow Airport is not your final destination and both flights were on one booking, the delay is measured where the journey ends and the amount on the distance from Geneva Airport to that final airport (Folkerts, C-11/11) — even when the onward flight is outside Europe. On separate tickets each flight stands alone, and a missed onward flight is not the first airline’s liability.
Escalation for this direction
Enforcement body: Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA / BAZL) (Switzerland)
Court claims: 2 years (Art. 14 of the Air Transport Ordinance (LTrV, SR 748.411), applied to Art. 7 compensation by the Basel-Stadt Appeals Court (BEZ.2016.3, 29 June 2016)). Court claims are brought before the Civil court (simplified procedure) after the conciliation authority.
Direct answer
- Short answer
- Yes — a flight from Geneva to London delayed 3+ hours, cancelled at short notice or overbooked can be worth €250 per passenger, on any airline.
- Amount
- €250€250 per passenger · 754 km
- Why
- The distance is 754 km (Up to 1,500 km) and the flight falls under Swiss passenger rights (Reg. 261/2004 via the EU–CH agreement); the fixed amount depends only on the distance band.
- What can change it
- The airline proves extraordinary circumstances (weather, ATC, security) that it could not avoid.
- Arrival delay under 3 hours at the final destination.
- Cancellation announced 14+ days ahead, or re-routing within the legal windows.
- Check your flight
- Check compensation for this route
- Official source
- Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport (signed 21 June 1999) — European Community / Swiss ConfederationLast checked against the source on 12 September 2026
What happens if my Geneva → London flight is delayed or cancelled?
the Swiss rules (Reg. 261/2004) applies to every airline on this route: €250 per passenger for an arrival delay of 3 hours or more, a cancellation announced under 14 days ahead, or denied boarding, unless the airline proves an extraordinary circumstance. Refund, re-routing and care are due whatever the cause.
Does this apply to your flight?
Checking a Geneva → London flight?
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Already known from this page
- Geneva (GVA) → London (LHR)
What happened to your flight?
The route
Geneva–London is one of Switzerland’s busiest links, served by SWISS and British Airways to Heathrow and by easyJet to Gatwick and Luton. The ski-season peaks bring the worst delays: snow and fog in Geneva, and Heathrow’s capacity restrictions in winter weather.
Which rules apply
Departing Geneva, the Swiss application of Regulation 261/2004 covers the flight whatever the airline. For the return (London → Geneva) UK261 applies (£220) on every airline. Because British Airways is a UK carrier, its Geneva–London flights are also covered by UK261’s inbound rule — the passenger can rely on either, but is compensated once.
Typical causes and defences
- Winter weather at Geneva: extraordinary where it genuinely prevented operations.
- French ATC restrictions (Geneva’s departures use French airspace): usually extraordinary if proven for your flight.
- Heathrow slot delays and crew issues: knock-on delays are compensable unless the root cause was extraordinary.
Escalation
Swiss departures: airline → FOCA complaint → Swiss civil court within 2 years. For BA flights, the CEDR ADR scheme is also available under UK261.
Frequently asked questions
Is a delayed or cancelled flight from Geneva to London covered by Regulation 261/2004 as applied in Switzerland?
Yes, on any airline: the flight departs from Switzerland, so Regulation 261/2004 as applied in Switzerland applies whatever the carrier's nationality. Whether compensation is due then depends on the disruption — an arrival delay of three hours or more, a cancellation announced less than 14 days ahead, or denied boarding — and on the cause.
How much compensation for a delayed or cancelled Geneva to London flight?
€250 per passenger for a 754 km flight, if the disruption qualifies and no extraordinary circumstance is proven. It is the same for every fare and does not depend on the ticket price; a re-routing that gets you there within the Article 7(2) time limits can halve it.
What if the airline rejects my claim for a Geneva to London flight?
Reply once in writing asking for the facts behind the refusal, then escalate outside the airline. ADR schemes for this route: easyJet, easyJet Switzerland → AviationADR — free for passengers. SWISS, British Airways: no ADR scheme on file for this country — complain to the enforcement body instead. The enforcement body is Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA / BAZL). Court claims must be brought within the limitation period of Switzerland: 2 years.
Do the same rules apply on the way back, from London to Geneva?
Not entirely. On the return flight the regime changes to UK261; the competent enforcement body is UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); the court deadline follows the other country. Each direction is judged on its own departure.
Sources
- European Community / Swiss ConfederationAgreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport (signed 21 June 1999)
- Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA / BAZL)Air passenger rights — scope, how to refer a case to FOCA, questions and answers
- European Parliament and CouncilRegulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights
- UK Government — legislation.gov.ukRegulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law (assimilated law)
Last legally reviewed: 12 September 2026 · Content updated: 12 September 2026
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