Educational passenger-rights overview only — not legal advice. Compensation bands cited below come from published regulation text; eligibility and amounts depend on your itinerary, operating carrier and the cause of disruption. Verify current official figures before you claim.
Article 5 EU261 50% reduction rule explained — when re-routing within specified arrival windows cuts compensation from EUR 250/400/600 to half, and how to calculate your claim.
Key takeaways
- Article 5(2) allows airlines to reduce compensation by 50% when they re-route passengers under cancellation or denied-boarding scenarios and the alternative flight…
- Under Article 5, if the airline offers re-routing that gets you to final destination within close time bands of the original arrival…
- Verdict: check arrival timestamps before accepting half pay — airlines miscalculate windows.
- Half pay is regulation-specific, not airline courtesy.
When does EU261 pay only 50% compensation?
Article 5(2) allows airlines to reduce compensation by 50% when they re-route passengers under cancellation or denied-boarding scenarios and the alternative flight arrives within specific windows of the original scheduled arrival time — the windows differ by notice period and distance. If arrival falls outside those windows, full Article 7 bands apply.
Airlines sometimes apply 50% reductions incorrectly. Calculate your actual arrival versus original schedule before accepting their maths.
Full bands: EUR 250, EUR 400, EUR 600 per Article 7 — cite regulation text in disputes.
What arrival windows trigger the 50% reduction?
Under Article 5, if the airline offers re-routing that gets you to final destination within close time bands of the original arrival (commonly within two to four hours depending on distance and notice), compensation may be halved. Exact windows are in the regulation text — map your actual arrival timestamp, not the airline's marketing summary.
Example pattern: cancellation with re-routing arriving only 90 minutes late on a long-haul may halve EUR 600 to EUR 300 — if all Article 5 conditions are met. If arrival is five hours late, demand the full band.
EU261 50% reduction — verdict
Verdict: check arrival timestamps before accepting half pay — airlines miscalculate windows. Not for delay-only cases where Article 5 reduction logic does not apply.
Framework checked August 2026 — Regulation EC 261/2004 Article 5(2) is the source.
50% reduction FAQ
Half pay is regulation-specific, not airline courtesy. Full bands apply when re-routing misses Article 5 windows.
UK261? Parallel reduction logic — verify UK text.
Volunteer re-route? Different from involuntary reduction rules.
Evidence note
How we checked this guide
Research basis
Structured desk research with 3 relevant primary or independent sources linked below.
Experience standard
No first-hand test or trip is implied unless the article explicitly states who tested it, when and under what conditions.
Review date
Editorially reviewed on 8 August 2026. Time-sensitive prices, rules and eligibility must be checked again before purchase or travel.
Commercial independence
This guide currently carries no configured commissioned partner link. Editorial conclusions are not sold.
See the editorial policy, method notes, or report a correction.