Flight Delayed or Cancelled in Slovakia? EU261 Rights at Bratislava and Košice
Many Slovak travelers fly from Bratislava or Košice, and many others use Vienna Airport just across the border. EU261 applies to flights departing Slovakia, and the country where your problem happened decides which authority handles your complaint.
Main airports and airlines in Slovakia
Bratislava M. R. Štefánik (BTS) and Košice (KSC) are the main airports, with Poprad-Tatry (TAT) smaller. Slovakia has no large home airline today; Ryanair and Wizz Air run many flights, and holiday charters fly to the Mediterranean. Vienna (VIE) is about an hour away and is often used for long-haul trips.
When EU261 applies to flights in Slovakia
Whether EU261 covers you depends on where you departed and who flew you. It generally applies when:
- You depart from an airport in Slovakia, on any airline. That includes holiday charters from Bratislava to non-EU destinations.
- You fly into Slovakia from outside the EU on an airline licensed in the EU. An EU airline flying into Bratislava from outside the EU is covered.
If you flew from Vienna, the incident happened in Austria, so your complaint goes to Austria's apf. See our Austria guide.
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 (Košice to Prague, about 530 km), 3 hours for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km (Bratislava to Málaga, about 2,180 km), and 4 hours for longer flights (a long-haul flight over 3,500 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. With few daily flights on many routes, a cancellation can mean waiting a day or more. If you choose re-routing, the airline must provide meals and a hotel while you wait.
Where to complain in Slovakia
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. Slovakia's national enforcement body is the Slovak Trade Inspection (Slovenská obchodná inšpekcia, SOI), Central Inspectorate, in Bratislava. Information is in Slovak and English: soi.sk.
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
I live in Slovakia but flew from Vienna. Who do I complain to? The incident happened in Austria, so the Austrian apf is the right body.
Is a Ryanair flight from Bratislava covered? Yes. Every flight departing from Slovakia is covered by EU261.
Who enforces EU261 in Slovakia? The Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI).
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.