Helsinki Airport (HEL): Get compensation for delays, cancellations and overbooking
Has your flight to or from Helsinki Airport been cancelled or delayed? In many cases, you may be entitled to compensation under UK Regulation 261. This applies, if your flight arrives late at your final destination, if your flight has been cancelled at short notice, or if you are denied boarding due to overbooking.
On this page, you’ll find an overview of your rights as a passenger when flights to or from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport are affected by delays, cancellations or other changes to travel plans. You can also read what you should do in such situations, which relevant documents you should keep, and when the airline must offer an alternative flight, hotel accommodation, transport or a full refund.
About Helsinki Airport
Helsinki Airport, also known as Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is Finland’s largest airport and a major hub for air travel in the Nordic region. The airport is used by many international airlines, but is particularly closely associated with Finnair, Finland’s national airline. Many passengers travel via Helsinki to other European destinations, Asia and North America, and therefore any delays at the airport may also affect connecting flights and arrival at the destination.
Flight delays and cancellations from Helsinki Airport in 2025:
Total number of departures | Number of flight cancellations | % flight cancellations | Number of delays over 3 hours | % delays over 3 hours | Total % cancellations and delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
75,154 | 1,343 | 1.79% | 103 | 0.14% | 1.92% |
Compared to the average percentage of cancellations and delays for the 50 largest airports in Europe, which stood at 1.0% in 2025, punctuality at Helsinki Airport is below average.
When can you claim compensation for flights to and from Helsinki Airport?
It is important to emphasise that it is not the airport that pays compensation. It is the airline, i.e. the company operating the flight, which in some cases is obliged to pay.
You can typically claim compensation in three main situations:
1. Delayed flight
If your flight is delayed and you arrive at your destination at least three hours later than scheduled, you may be entitled to compensation. The decisive factor is therefore not the original departure time, but the duration of the delay on arrival.
If your flight is only delayed by a few minutes or up to three hours, this does not usually entitle you to financial compensation. For delays of over two hours, you are entitled to assistance at the airport, such as meals and drinks.
2. Cancelled flights
If your flight has been cancelled and you were notified less than 14 days before departure, you can in many cases claim compensation. In the event of a cancelled flight, the airline must, generally, offer you the choice between a full refund of the ticket or an alternative flight to your destination.
If you have been offered an alternative flight, your right to compensation depends, among other things, on when you arrive compared to the originally scheduled arrival time.
3. Denied boarding
If you arrive on time for check-in, have a valid ticket and boarding pass, but are still denied boarding at the gate, you may be entitled to compensation for denied boarding. This often happens due to overbooking, where the airline has sold more tickets than there are seats on the flight.
In this situation, as a passenger, you are often entitled to compensation, alternative transport and, if necessary, hotel accommodation if you cannot continue your journey until the following day.
How much compensation can you get?
Compensation depends on the length of the flight and the extent of the delay on arrival at the destination. Under European and UK rules, as a passenger you can typically receive between €250 and €600 per person.
Overview of possible compensation:
The exact amount depends on the specific flight, the flight’s duration, the route, and whether the delay or cancellation is due to circumstances within the airline’s control.
Reason | Delayed arrival | Flights under 1.500 km | Flights 1.501 - 3.500 km | Flights over 3.500 km between EU-countries | Flights over 3.500 km to/from EU-countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancelled* | 2 – 3 hours | £220 | £170 | £170 | £260 |
Cancelled /Delayed | 3 – 4 hours | £220 | £345 | £345 | £260 |
Cancelled/Delayed | More than 4 hours** | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
Overbooked | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
* If the cancellation occurs less than 7 days before the scheduled departure. ** If the cancellation occurs between 14-7 days before the scheduled departure.
When is the airline not required to pay compensation?
There are cases where the airline is not required to pay financial compensation. This typically applies in exceptional circumstances, i.e. circumstances beyond the airline’s control which could not have been avoided even if the airline had taken all reasonable measures.
Examples include:
bad weather
political unrest
ATC restrictions or airspace closures
strikes beyond the airline’s control
However, this does not mean that all strikes automatically exempt the airline from liability. An internal strike among the airline’s own crew is within the airline’s control. Therefore, in some situations, you may still be entitled to compensation if your Finnair flight or another flight is cancelled or delayed because of a strike within the airline itself.
Read more about the compensation rules in the event of a strike here.
Technical problems and the airline’s control
Many passengers are told that their delay was due to technical problems, but this does not automatically mean that they are not entitled to compensation. Common technical faults, maintenance, crew issues or poor planning will often be circumstances within the airline’s control.
If your flight is cancelled or delayed due to such circumstances, you may therefore be entitled to claim compensation. An example of this is when Finnair experienced technical problems in the autumn due to their seats being washed incorrectly, resulting in flight cancellations. Read more about Finnair’s technical problems in the autumn here.
Which airlines have the most cancellations and delays from Helsinki Airport?
Below you can see statistics on cancellations and delays of over 3 hours for the airlines that operated the most flights from Helsinki Airport in 2025.
Airline | 🛫Number of flights | 🚫Number of flight cancellations | 🕑Number of flight delays of over 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
Finnair Oyj | 57949 | 1287 | 60 |
Norwegian Air Sweden | 3931 | 8 | 6 |
SAS | 2201 | 17 | 0 |
Lufthansa | 2033 | 9 | 11 |
Ryanair DAC | 1555 | 3 | 6 |
Air Baltic | 1220 | 0 | 2 |
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1092 | 8 | 2 |
Turkish Airlines | 761 | 0 | 2 |
FlexFlight | 730 | 0 | 0 |
Air France | 727 | 5 | 1 |
Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi | 492 | 1 | 3 |
Chautauqua Airlines | 454 | 0 | 0 |
SunClass Airlines | 389 | 0 | 5 |
Icelandair | 365 | 3 | 2 |
Juneyao Airlines | 261 | 0 | 0 |
Norwegian Air Shuttle | 253 | 1 | 0 |
Japan Airlines International | 226 | 1 | 1 |
Eurowings | 165 | 0 | 0 |
What should you do if your flight to or from Helsinki Airport is cancelled or delayed?
If your flight is delayed or cancelled, it is important to document the incident thoroughly. This will make it easier to submit your claim later.
1. Keep all relevant documents
If possible, make sure to keep:
your ticket in digital or physical form
your boarding pass
booking confirmation
emails and messages from the airline
details of the original departure and new departure
proof of check-in
photos of screens at the airport
2. Keep receipts
If you pay for food, drink, hotel accommodation, taxis or other transport yourself, you should keep all receipts. In many cases, you can claim a refund for these expenses if the airline does not assist you. Read more about your right to compensation for extra expenses.
3. Ask for a written explanation
If you are denied boarding, ask for a written explanation on the spot. This may be crucial if you wish to submit a claim later.
Practical information about Helsinki Airport: check-in and baggage
If you are travelling via Helsinki Airport, it is a good idea to be aware of both check-in and baggage procedures, especially if changes occur close to departure.
Check-in and boarding
Arrive in good time and keep an eye on information regarding departure, gate and boarding. If you arrive late for check-in or boarding, this may affect your ability to claim compensation later.
Lost or damaged luggage
If your luggage is damaged, delayed or missing upon arrival, you should immediately go to the airline’s desk at the airport and have the issue recorded. Keep all documents and receipts for any necessary purchases made due to your missing luggage. Claims for damaged luggage follow different rules to compensation for cancelled flights or delays, but it is still important to act quickly. Read more about your rights regarding lost or damaged luggage here.
How we help you get compensation
When a flight is cancelled or delayed, it can be difficult to assess for yourself whether the cause is due to extraordinary circumstances or factors within the airline’s control. That is why many passengers choose to seek help in pursuing a claim.
Here’s how it typically works with us:
Submit your claim in 2 minutes
We assess whether your case qualifies for compensation under the applicable rules.
We’ll handle the dialogue with the airline and take legal action on your behalf if necessary – with no financial risk to you. If we lose the case, our services are free of charge for you.
We’ll transfer the money to you as soon as we’ve received payment from the airline.