The CAA regulates the airlines. It doesn't referee your individual claim — that's a separate system entirely, and knowing how it works changes how fast you actually get paid.
Legal Framework: How EC261 Became UK261
Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 was retained in UK domestic law via the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, then amended by The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The resulting framework is what's now referred to as UK261 — structurally near-identical to its EU counterpart, just redenominated into pounds sterling and enforced by a different regulator.
The compensation tiers mirror EC261's distance-based structure:
- Short-haul (up to 1,500 km): £220
- Medium-haul (1,500–3,500 km): £350
- Long-haul (over 3,500 km): £260 if you arrive 3–4 hours late, or £520 if you arrive more than 4 hours late — the one meaningful structural difference from the EU tiers, where the top band is a flat figure regardless of exactly how late within the "over 3 hours" window you land.
The CAA Doesn't Adjudicate Your Individual Claim
This is the detail that catches out the most UK passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) oversees industry-wide compliance with UK261 — but unlike some EU national enforcement bodies, it does not step in to adjudicate individual financial disputes between a specific passenger and a specific airline. If the CAA won't resolve your case directly, where does it actually go?
The ADR Architecture: CEDR vs. AviationADR
Airlines operating in the UK may voluntarily join one of two CAA-approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) bodies. A decision from an ADR is legally binding on the airline once the passenger accepts it — making this the practical enforcement mechanism for most individual UK261 claims.
CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution)
Member airlines include British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2, and TUI Airways. CEDR applies a high degree of technical rigor and strict evidentiary standards, particularly for claims involving disputed technical-delay causes. Its typical procedural timeline runs around 90 days.
AviationADR
Member airlines include Ryanair, Wizz Air, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and Lufthansa. AviationADR handles a significant volume of low-cost carrier claims, and that volume can produce seasonal processing backlogs — occasionally extending beyond 120 days during peak periods.
Non-ADR Carriers
If your airline doesn't belong to either scheme — this includes certain foreign operators without a UK ADR membership — your claim must be pursued directly through the UK Small Claims Court via Money Claim Online (MCOL) rather than through free arbitration.
Carrier-Specific Notes
British Airways: The IT Failure Question
British Airways has experienced several high-profile operational meltdowns tied to legacy IT infrastructure and centralized cloud integration failures at London Heathrow and Gatwick. This matters specifically because of how UK law classifies the cause: software outages, internal server collapses, and data center disruptions are treated as controllable technical defects under UK261 — not extraordinary circumstances. That means BA remains fully liable for compensation when an IT failure, rather than weather or an external event, is the actual cause of your disruption.
Jet2 and TUI Airways: Charter and Package Overlap
Jet2 consistently records lower cancellation rates and stronger punctuality during peak holiday seasons compared to several legacy competitors. Because Jet2 and TUI Airways both operate integrated package holiday networks, a disruption on one of their charter flights frequently triggers dual protections: UK261 compensation for the flight disruption itself, alongside separate proportional refunds or accommodation adjustments for the rest of your holiday arrangement under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations. Don't assume you only have one claim to make if your flight was part of a package.
What This Means for Your Claim
Check which ADR scheme, if any, your airline belongs to before you assume court is your only option if the airline refuses to pay — CEDR and AviationADR are both free to the passenger. And if your disruption was part of a package holiday, don't stop at the flight compensation; check what you're separately owed under the package travel rules too.
Use our UK261 Claim Checklist to confirm eligibility and identify the right escalation path, and generate a formal claim letter referencing UK261 specifically once you're ready to submit.
Related Kibbo Tools
- UK261 Claim Checklist →
- Generate a Flight Disruption Compensation Letter →
- Aviation Authorities (Directory) →