Ryanair: flight delay or cancellation compensation

What the law gives you: a rights summary

Israeli Aviation Services Law

Applies to every flight departing from or landing in Israel, on any airline.

• Departure delayed 2 hours or more: food, drinks and means of communication.
• Delayed 5 to 8 hours: a refund or an alternative ticket, your choice.
• Taking off 8 hours or more late counts as a cancellation: cash compensation per the table, plus a refund or an alternative ticket.
• A cancellation announced 14 days or more ahead: no cash compensation, but a refund or alternative ticket. With shorter notice, compensation depends on the times of the alternative flight.
• If the alternative flight landed close to the original time (within 2, 3 or 4 hours by distance), the airline may halve the compensation.
• No cash compensation if the airline proves special circumstances outside its control that it could not prevent, a protected strike, or a cancellation to avoid flying on Shabbat or a holiday.
• Compensation is due within 45 days of your written request, a ticket refund within 21 days. Payment is in money; a voucher only if you agreed explicitly and in writing.
• You can claim up to 4 years after the event. During a declared "special situation" the minister may change some of these rights by order.

EU Regulation 261/2004

Applies to a flight departing from an EU airport (any airline), and to a flight into the EU on an EU-licensed airline.

• Arriving at the final destination 3 hours or more late entitles you to compensation, like a cancellation (CJEU, Sturgeon).
• On flights over 3,500 km delayed 3 to 4 hours, compensation can be halved (€300).
• No compensation for extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided with all reasonable measures.
• One compensation per event: if you were compensated under a foreign law, you do not get the same kind of benefit again under the Israeli law.
• An amendment signed in 2026 (Regulation 2026/2202) applies from 23.10.2027: the amounts stay the same, and from then claims must be filed within 9 months of the flight.

Sources (checked 01.11.2026): Aviation Services Law (Nevo) · Official Gazette 14222: 2026 amounts · Domestic flight regulations (Nevo) · Regulation 261/2004 (EUR-Lex) · Regulation 2026/2202 (EUR-Lex)

Where to submit to Ryanair

The EU261 form opens only after logging in to myRyanair.

Opened on the airline's own site on 27.10.2026.

How long Ryanair takes to answer

Not measured yet: we do not have enough closed cases to show a real answer time for this airline, so we do not show a number.

Under the Israeli Aviation Services Law, after a cancellation the airline must pay the fixed compensation within 45 days of your written request, and refund a ticket within 21 days. EU Regulation 261/2004 currently sets no reply deadline.

Source: Aviation Services Law, 2012 (nevo.co.il), checked 31.10.2026.

What Ryanair may answer, and what the law says

"Technical problem"

Under CJEU case law, a fault arising from normal aircraft operation is usually not an extraordinary circumstance. Under the Israeli law too, the airline must prove it could not have prevented the cancellation. Ask what the fault was.

"Weather"

Can be a valid reason, but only if the weather really prevented this flight. Ask which airport and at what time.

"Strike"

The Israeli law exempts a protected strike. In the EU, a strike by the airline's own staff is usually not an extraordinary circumstance (CJEU C-28/20).

"We gave you a voucher"

Under the Israeli law compensation is paid in money; a voucher only with explicit written consent. The EU regulation also requires the passenger's signed agreement for a voucher.

"We told you in advance"

Only 14 days' notice or more removes compensation entirely. With shorter notice, what matters is when the alternative flight left and landed. Keep the notice you got, with its date.

These are answers airlines often give in general, not a figure we measured for this airline.

Common questions