The Copenhagen–London route is a key Scandinavian connection, covering approximately 957 km between Denmark's capital and the UK. If your flight from Copenhagen Airport Kastrup (CPH) to London arrived more than 3 hours late, you are entitled to €250 per passenger under EU Regulation EC 261/2004.
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The route is primarily served by SAS, British Airways, EasyJet, and Norwegian Air. At under 1,500 km, all passengers on delayed flights — regardless of ticket price or airline — qualify for the same fixed compensation.
Your Compensation: €250 per Passenger
At 957 km, the Copenhagen–London route falls within the under-1,500 km compensation bracket. A delay of 3 or more hours at arrival entitles every passenger to €250 in fixed compensation under EC 261/2004.
Key facts about this compensation:
- It is the same for every passenger — economy, business, award ticket
- Two passengers: €500. A family of four: €1,000
- It is paid in cash (bank transfer) — you cannot be forced to accept a voucher
- It is in addition to meal vouchers, hotel accommodation, or ticket refunds owed during the disruption
When Does EC 261/2004 Apply?
Three conditions must all be met:
1. Arrival delay of 3 hours or more The 3-hour threshold applies at the moment the aircraft doors open at your London airport — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, or City. If a flight departs Copenhagen 4 hours late but arrives only 2 hours 45 minutes behind schedule, compensation does not apply.
2. Departure from Copenhagen Airport (EU soil) Copenhagen Airport is in Denmark, an EU member state. All flights departing from CPH are subject to EC 261/2004 regardless of the carrier's nationality. British Airways (UK), Norwegian (Norway), and EasyJet (UK) must all comply with EC 261/2004 for their Copenhagen departures.
3. Confirmed booking A booking reference number is all that is required. The ticket price, booking channel, and fare class are irrelevant.
When compensation does not apply: extraordinary circumstances outside the airline's control — severe weather, ATC strikes, security threats, bird strikes resulting in major technical damage — exempt the airline from paying. However, routine technical faults, late aircraft arrivals from previous sectors, and crew issues are not extraordinary circumstances. These are part of normal airline operations.
Airlines Operating This Route
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) is the dominant carrier on this route, operating Copenhagen–London Heathrow as a core network connection. SAS is an EU carrier (Swedish/Danish/Norwegian ownership) and EC 261/2004 applies fully to its flights. SAS has an online customer service portal and tends to process valid claims without requiring escalation, though response times vary.
British Airways operates Copenhagen–London Heathrow service. For Copenhagen departures, EC 261/2004 applies (not UK261). BA's claims portal handles EU-departure claims. The process is straightforward for clear-cut cases.
EasyJet serves Copenhagen from London Gatwick and Luton. For Copenhagen departures, EC 261/2004 applies. EasyJet's online compensation form is the standard submission route. EasyJet sometimes disputes technical delay claims, so ensure you request specific written documentation if they cite extraordinary circumstances.
Norwegian Air operates the route using its Norwegian Air Shuttle or Norwegian Air International entities. Norwegian has had a turbulent financial history, including restructuring proceedings, but continues to operate and is subject to EC 261/2004 for Copenhagen departures. Claims may take longer to resolve given Norwegian's administrative complexity.
How to Claim in 4 Steps
Step 1: Verify the delay Use FlightAware or the airline's own app to confirm the actual arrival time at your London airport. Note the flight number, scheduled arrival, and actual arrival.
Step 2: Submit a claim to the airline Use the airline's online compensation form. You will need your booking reference, flight number, departure date, and IBAN for payment. Keep all documentation.
Step 3: Await the response Airlines have up to 2 months to respond. If your claim is accepted, payment typically arrives within 2–6 weeks. SAS and BA tend to be more responsive than budget carriers.
Step 4: Escalate if needed
- Denmark: file a complaint with the Danish Transport Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) or the Danish Centre for Complaint Resolution.
- Claims service: AirHelp handles the entire process — including court proceedings if necessary — on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Full Route Data: Copenhagen to London
For detailed information on this route including distance, flight time, and all active operators, see the Copenhagen to London route page.
FAQ — Copenhagen–London Flight Delay
SAS cancelled my Copenhagen–London flight — am I entitled to €250? Yes, cancellations are covered by EC 261/2004. You are entitled to choose between a full refund or rerouting, and separately to claim €250 — unless the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances and you received at least 14 days' notice.
Norwegian's Copenhagen–London flight was delayed — can I claim despite Norwegian's financial difficulties? Yes. Norwegian continues to operate and is legally obligated to honour EC 261/2004 claims for departures from EU airports including Copenhagen. If Norwegian refuses, the Danish Transport Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) can enforce compliance.
My Copenhagen–London flight was delayed due to a snow storm — does compensation apply? Not automatically. If the snow was classified as extraordinary circumstances by the airline, the obligation to pay the fixed €250 compensation is suspended. However, you retain the right to meals, accommodation, and if needed, a ticket refund. The snow must be genuinely extraordinary — not a predictable winter condition at Copenhagen Airport.
Can I claim if I bought the ticket through a travel agent or comparison website? Yes. Your claim is against the operating airline, not the booking platform. Your booking reference and boarding pass are sufficient to file the claim directly with the airline.
What is the statute of limitations for a Copenhagen departure delay claim? Danish law provides a 3-year limitation period for EC 261/2004 claims based on flights departing from Denmark. File your claim as soon as possible to ensure access to flight records and documentation from the airline.
Not sure how much you can claim? Use our compensation calculator to check your eligibility in under a minute. For a full overview of your passenger rights, see our guide to EC 261/2004.