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Licensed in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines flight delay compensation

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is licensed in Ethiopia. This page shows which compensation rules apply to its flights, in each direction, with the amounts computed from the rules.

Updated

Where Ethiopian Airlines flight delay compensation is coveredEU261: leaving, covered, 250 to 600 EUR; arriving, not covered. UK261: leaving, covered, 220 to 520 GBP; arriving, not covered. Canada: leaving, covered, 125 to 1,000 CAD; arriving, covered, 125 to 1,000 CAD.LeavingArrivingEU261EUREU261, leaving: applies, 250 to 600250 to 600EU261, arriving: does not applyNot coveredUK261GBPUK261, leaving: applies, 220 to 520220 to 520UK261, arriving: does not applyNot coveredCanadaCADCanada, leaving: applies, 125 to 1,000125 to 1,000Canada, arriving: applies, 125 to 1,000125 to 1,000
Amounts per passenger by distance and delay. Hatched: applies, a point we could not confirm.

Typical amount. Only on flights that leave the EU or the UK: EU261 pays up to EUR 600 and UK261 up to GBP 520 by distance, when the flight lands 3 hours or more late and nothing extraordinary caused it. Its flights into the EU or the UK from outside are not covered.

Which rules apply to Ethiopian Airlines depends on where the flight starts and ends. The table shows each direction. Your ticket airline does not matter: the rules look at the airline that operated the flight.

Rules by direction for Ethiopian Airlines
DirectionRule setCovered on Ethiopian Airlines?
Leaving the EUEU261Yes, any airline
Arriving in the EU from outsideEU261No, not an EU airline
Leaving the UKUK261Yes, any airline
Arriving in the UKUK261No, not a UK or EU airline
Arriving in the EU on a UK airlineUK261Not applicable (not a UK airline)
To or from CanadaCanada APPRYes, any airline. Size not confirmed: CAD 125 to CAD 1,000, depending on its size and how late you arrive
To, from or within the USUS refundsRefund if cancelled or significantly changed and you do not fly; no cash compensation

Two worked examples

The examples are flights of a given length, not named routes. Each assumes no extraordinary circumstances.

Computed examples for Ethiopian Airlines
FlightResult
A flight of 6,000 km from the EU to a country outside the EU, the UK and Canada, 5 hours lateEU261 EUR 600
A flight of 6,000 km from a country outside the EU, the UK and Canada to the EU, 5 hours lateNothing owed under these rules

Check your Ethiopian Airlines flight

How to claim

Send Ethiopian Airlines a written claim with your booking reference, the flight number and the delay, through its website or by letter. The claim guide lists the steps and the letter generator writes the letter.

Claims companies

If you prefer to hand the claim over, these companies take a share of any payout. Check on each company page which rule sets it lists.

Sorting criterion: the standard fee each company states, with VAT included, lowest first. Where a company states a range, we use the top of the range, so the order compares the most each one may charge. Ties go alphabetical. Flightright states 20 to 30% plus VAT; at the 19% its own worked example uses, that is 23.8 to 35.7%. Fees were read between October 10, 2026 and October 17, 2026 and can change. Confirm the fee on the company page before you sign anything.

Claims companies by standard fee, VAT included
CompanyStandard fee, VAT includedIf it goes to courtOpen
AirAdvisor30% of the amount collected before court, VAT included50% if outside lawyers are neededAirAdvisor site (opens in a new tab)
AirHelp35% of the compensation, VAT includedA further 15% in the minority of cases that need legal actionAirHelp site (opens in a new tab)
Flightright23.8% to 35.7%, VAT included (stated as 20 to 30% plus VAT)A 14% surcharge when its own lawyers must actFlightright site (opens in a new tab)
Skycop44% of the compensation, VAT included50% if legal proceedings are neededSkycop site (opens in a new tab)

Not ranked: Refundio (Czech-language site, Czech and Slovak flights only) states 35% and does not say whether VAT is included. That is 35% with VAT, or 42.35% at 21% Czech VAT if not.

Hours Late may earn a commission when you use a claims company through links on this page. It never changes the math or the ranking. A claims company keeps a share of any payout. The fee is shown next to each link.

About this airline in our data

Codes
IATA ET, ICAO ETHEntered by hand, not checked against a designator register.
License country
Ethiopia
EU operating license
No
UK operating license
No
Canada APPR size
Not confirmed

Questions about Ethiopian Airlines

Is Ethiopian Airlines covered by EU261?
On flights that leave the EU, yes: EU261 follows the departure airport, not the airline. On flights into the EU from outside it, only if the airline holds an EU operating license. Ethiopian Airlines does not hold an EU operating license.
Is Ethiopian Airlines covered by UK261?
On flights that leave the UK, yes. On flights into the UK, only for a UK or EU airline. Ethiopian Airlines is neither a UK nor an EU airline in our data.
Does Canada APPR apply to Ethiopian Airlines?
APPR covers flights that start or end in Canada on any airline. We could not confirm whether Ethiopian Airlines is a large or small carrier under the Canadian rules, and the size sets the amount. The airline’s tariff states it.
What does Ethiopian Airlines owe on a flight of 6,000 km from the EU to a country outside the EU, the UK and Canada that lands 5 hours late?
EU261 EUR 600, assuming no extraordinary circumstances.
And on a flight of 6,000 km from a country outside the EU, the UK and Canada to the EU that lands 5 hours late?
Nothing owed under these rules, assuming no extraordinary circumstances.

Hours Late is not a law firm and not a claims company. It does not file claims for you. The results are estimates from published rules and the details you enter. They are not legal advice. Airlines and courts decide each case.

Sources