Programme into: Air passenger rights
Programme Opened: 2 October 2025
Summary: This compliance programme is looking at whether airlines are meeting their obligations under UK261 legislation when consumers face flight disruption.
Relevant legal provision(s): Assimilated Regulation (EU) No 261/2004 (‘UK261’)
Opening text – 2 October 2025
The CAA is the national enforcement body responsible for enforcing Assimilated Regulation (EU) No 261/2004 (‘UK261’) which sets out passenger rights when they experience flight delays or cancellations, or when they are denied boarding. We have opened a compliance programme to assess industry compliance with its obligations to passengers under UK261.
The main objectives of this programme are:
- To ensure that airlines are complying with the relevant obligations and, where appropriate, taking into account existing industry guidance (e.g., CAA guidance on re-routing); and
- To identify any systemic issues in relation to an airline’s compliance with UK261 and ensure improvements for passengers.
The programme will initially focus on the largest 25 airlines flying from the UK, determined by UK passenger volumes. This will cover airlines serving 90% of the passengers undertaking flights commercially in the UK. It will also consider the compliance of certain regional airlines to ensure fair coverage across the UK, especially where consumer choice may be limited.
We expect this programme to run for at least 18 months. We will publish updates on progress at relevant points over that period.
Contact: UK261complianceprogramme@caa.co.uk