Flight Delayed due to Maintenance? How to Claim Compensation

Top airlines balance rigorous maintenance with on-time schedules, but when service overruns delay your flight, this isn’t a problem for you to shoulder. The silver lining? Most maintenance-related delays qualify for passenger compensation.

When an airline cites mechanical issues, most passengers assume it falls under a safety emergency—meaning no compensation. However, under EC Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261)  technical defects and routine maintenance delays can qualify for compensation up to €600.

If your flight was delayed by maintenance for 3 hours or more due to a technical issue, here is everything you need to know about your rights, what the law actually says, and how to claim what you're owed.

Yes. Under EC 261, airlines are legally required to compensate passengers for long delays, cancellations, and missed connections—unless the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

Generally with maintenance issues, airlines tend to claim they couldn't have prevented the issue. However, European court rulings have repeatedly clarified this rule: routine technical issues, unexpected wear-and-tear, and maintenance delays are the responsibility of the airline. Flight delays due to maintenance can mean compensation for passengers.

Which flights does EC 261 cover?

EC 261 covers you if your flight departs from an airport in the EU, whatever the airline, or if it arrives in the EU from outside it on an EU airline. The same rules apply in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and in the nine EU outermost regions: the Azores, the Canary Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint-Martin.

The short answer is no. While the vast majority of technical delays are eligible, there are rare exceptions where a maintenance issue does qualify as an extraordinary circumstance. In these scenarios, the airline is exempt from paying compensation:

• Manufacturing Defects: A structural flaw or systemic safety defect disclosed by the aircraft manufacturer or aviation authority (e.g., a fleet-wide grounding by the EASA or FAA).

• Acts of Sabotage or Terrorism: Physical damage caused to the aircraft by security incidents.

• Foreign Object Damage (FOD): Damage caused by external factors outside the airline's control, such as a bird strike hitting an engine during takeoff.

Even in these cases, the airline must prove these circumstances. They must provide maintenance records proving the issue was outside their control and that all possible measures were taken to avoid the delay.

Airlines frequently reject individual claims by citing "safety reasons" or "unexpected technical difficulties," hoping passengers will take their word for it. Fortunately, European law is clear: keeping an aircraft in working order is a basic operational duty, not an extraordinary excuse.

If your flight was delayed or cancelled due to a maintenance issue within the last 3 years (depending on the country), you may be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.

If you find yourself stuck at the gate while engineers inspect your aircraft, take these immediate steps to help your claim:

1. Ask for the Specific Reason: Ask gate agents or crew members why the aircraft is being serviced. Take a note of the exact explanation (e.g., "faulty sensor," "brake pad replacement," or "engine check").

2. Keep Your Travel Documents: Retain your boarding passes, booking confirmation codes, and baggage claim tags.

3. Gather Evidence: Take photos of the departure boards showing the delay status. Keep any SMS or email updates sent by the airline.

4. Track Your Arrival Time: Record the exact time the aircraft doors open at your final destination gate—not when the wheels touch down on the runway.

5. Do Not Sign Waiver Agreements: Airlines may offer travel vouchers or miles at the gate. Be cautious: signing acceptance documents may contain hidden clauses waiving your legal right to compensation under EC 261.

6. Claim your Right to Care: The airline must provide support regardless of whether the technical delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances or not. This means food and refreshments, free communication (phone calls, emails) and hotel accommodation if you require an overnight stay.

Compensation amounts vary based on travel distance and the length of the delay to your final destination. Here are the amounts based on distance:

€250: All journeys covering distances up to 1,500 km.

€400: Internal EU flights over 1,500 km or other trips between 1,500 and 3,500 km.

€600: Non-internal EU journeys exceeding 3,500 km.

If your flight delay due to maintenance exceeds 5 hours, you have different options available to you:

• Choose to Abandon the Journey: You are legally entitled to forgo your flight and receive a full reimbursement.

• Reimbursement Options: Travelers can claim the entire cost of the ticket if no part of the trip has been completed, or a partial amount for segments already flown.

• Losing the Trip's Value: If the disruption means you miss your original purpose (like a business event), the airline must provide a full refund for all legs and a return flight back to your starting point.

As pointed out earlier, airlines must legally demonstrate that the flight delay due to maintenance directly impacted your flight, created true "extraordinary circumstances," and that they took every reasonable measure to avoid the disruption.

That’s where AirHelp comes in. Since 2013, our team of air passenger rights experts has helped millions of travelers worldwide navigate complex regulations and claim what they deserve.

We operate on a no-win, no-fee policy, ensuring complete transparency. Relax with total peace of mind while our legal team handles your claim and keeps you updated every step of the way.

1. What if a maintenance delay caused me to miss my connecting flight?

You are still covered under EC 261, provided your entire flight itinerary was booked under a single reservation (one booking reference / PNR). If an initial technical delay results in you arriving at your final destination 3 hours or more past your original schedule, you are entitled to full compensation.

2. Can I claim compensation if the technical issue affected an earlier flight, causing my plane to arrive late?

Yes. Known as a "reactionary delay" or knock-on effect, a technical fault is the airline's responsibility whether it happened on your flight or on the aircraft's previous rotation. It's different if that earlier flight was hit by something genuinely beyond the airline's control, like severe weather..

3. How far back can I claim compensation for a flight delayed by maintenance?

The time limit to file a claim depends on the country where the operating airline is based or the jurisdiction where the claim is brought. In most European countries, the statute of limitations ranges between 2 and 6 years.

4. What if the technical failure caused the flight to be cancelled instead of delayed?

If a maintenance fault leads to a total flight cancellation rather than a delay, you may  still be entitled to EC 261 compensation (up to €600) if you were notified less than 14 days before departure and the airline didn't rebook you on a similar schedule (full details here). In addition to compensation, the airline must offer you a choice between a full refund of your unused ticket or alternate transport (rerouting) to your final destination at the earliest opportunity.