Passengers facing hefty flight delays in Turkiye will now be able to claim compensation, it was revealed today Tues Dec 10).

Türkiye has introduced regulations designed to protect air travelers from the inconveniences of significant flight delays. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) has introduced the new rules, as outlined in the Official Gazette, to safeguard passenger rights.

Airlines whose flights are delayed by more than three hours will pay compensation to their passengers in the specified amounts. The compensation varies:

Domestic Flights: Passengers will be paid 100 Euros in compensation.

International Flights: Compensation amounts were determined according to flight distance as follows:

Distances of 1,500 kilometers or less: 250 Euros
Distances between 1,500 – 3,500 kilometers: 400 Euros
Distances longer than 3,500 kilometers: 600 Euros

Compensation amounts will be calculated in Turkish Lira according to the foreign exchange selling rate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on the payment date.

Passengers who want to benefit from their right to compensation due to flight delay must apply to the airline company after the delayed flight, indicating the ticket information and the duration of the delay.

This regulation was made within the scope of the “Regulation on the Rights of Airline Passengers” (SHY-PASSENGER), which regulates the rights of airline travelers. This step by SHGM aims to bring passenger rights closer to international standards while encouraging airline companies to a higher quality of service.

Türkiye’s new regulations align its air passenger protections with the European Union.