Flight Delayed or Cancelled in Poland? EU261 Rights at Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk
Poland has a fast-growing air market, with LOT's Warsaw hub and big low-cost operations across the country. EU261 applies to every flight departing Poland and to EU airlines flying in from outside the EU, and Poland has a dedicated ombudsman for air passengers.
Main airports and airlines in Poland
Warsaw Chopin (WAW) is the hub of LOT Polish Airlines, a Star Alliance member. Other airports include Warsaw Modlin (WMI), Kraków (KRK), Gdańsk (GDN), Katowice (KTW), Wrocław (WRO) and Poznań (POZ). Ryanair (including its Polish arm Buzz), Wizz Air and charter airline Enter Air also fly widely.
When EU261 applies to flights in Poland
Whether EU261 covers you depends on where you departed and who flew you. It generally applies when:
- You depart from an airport in Poland, on any airline. That includes LOT long-haul flights and charters to non-EU holiday destinations.
- You fly into Poland from outside the EU on an airline licensed in the EU. A LOT flight into Warsaw from Chicago is covered.
Connections via Warsaw on one LOT booking are generally assessed to the final destination.
Delays: care, re-routing and refunds
Waiting triggers the airline's duty of care: meals and refreshments, two calls or emails, and a hotel plus transport if you must stay overnight. It applies after 2 hours for flights of 1,500 km or less (Warsaw to Kraków, about 250 km), 3 hours for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km (Warsaw to Barcelona, about 1,870 km), and 4 hours for longer flights (Warsaw to Chicago, about 7,520 km). Once a delay hits 5 hours, you can drop the flight and ask for a refund. A cancelled flight gives you the choice of a refund or re-routing, now or later.
The fixed amounts in the regulation
For arrival delays of 3 hours or more, short-notice cancellations (under 14 days) and denied boarding, the regulation sets €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less, €400 for longer flights within the EU and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and €600 for other flights over 3,500 km, which can be halved in some cases if you arrive within 4 hours of schedule. These are what the regulation sets, not a promise.
Extraordinary circumstances and local disruptions
The main exception is extraordinary circumstances: unsafe weather, ATC restrictions and strikes, security incidents and similar events outside the airline's control. Routine defects and strikes by the airline's own crew have generally not been accepted by the EU Court of Justice. The duty of care continues regardless. Winter weather and fog can affect Polish airports. Weather can be extraordinary, but the airline must show it actually caused the disruption.
Where to complain in Poland
Write to the airline first and keep a copy. If that does not resolve it, contact the national enforcement body in the country where the problem happened. Poland has two roles. Passenger complaints go to the Passengers' Rights Ombudsman (Rzecznik Praw Pasażera Lotniczego) at the Civil Aviation Authority in Warsaw: pasazerlotniczy.ulc.gov.pl. Enforcement sits with the President of the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC), Commission on Passengers' Rights.
Coming in 2027: Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 amends EU261. Most changes apply from 23 October 2027, including a general nine-month deadline for compensation requests. Until then, the current rules above apply.
FAQ
Is my Ryanair flight from Kraków covered? Yes. All flights departing from Poland are covered by EU261.
What does the Passengers' Rights Ombudsman do? It handles passenger complaints against airlines, after you have complained to the airline first.
My LOT flight to Chicago was delayed 6 hours. What applies? You can ask for care, and the €600 band may apply if the cause was within LOT's control.
Related guides
- EU261 guide (en español)
- Flight cancelled: your options
- Missed connection guide
- All Europe flight delay guides
Create your letter
Delay Draft writes a clear letter you send to the airline yourself ($9.99 for 1 to 2 travelers, $24.99 for 3 to 6). We are not a law firm and do not file claims for you. Questions: claims@delaydraft.com.