Delayed or cancelled flight from Turkey: your rights (SHY regulation)

Which flights the SHY regulation covers

Under Article 2 of the regulation, SHY-YOLCU applies to flights departing from an airport in Turkey, whichever airline operates them, and to flights of Turkish airlines to and from airports in Turkey. A flight to Turkey operated by a non-Turkish airline is therefore not covered by SHY.

• Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum, Izmir or Istanbul to the UK: covered by SHY, whatever the airline.
• UK to Turkey on a Turkish airline (for example Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet, SunExpress or Corendon Airlines): covered by SHY.
• UK to Turkey on a UK or EU airline: not covered by SHY, but covered by UK261 because the flight departs from the UK.
• Domestic flights within Turkey: covered by SHY.

UK261 or SHY: which rules apply to your holiday flight

UK261 applies to every flight departing from a UK airport, whatever the airline, and to flights arriving in the UK when the airline is a UK or EU carrier (Article 3). On a return flight from Turkey to the UK operated by a UK airline, both UK261 and SHY can therefore apply. FlightClaimHQ claims a single compensation for the same disruption, using the rules in this order: UK261 first, then EU261, then SHY.

Related guide: UK261 or EU261? Which rules apply to your flight after Brexit

How much: €100 to €600 per passenger

The amounts are set by Article 8(1) of the regulation, as amended on 10 December 2024. On international flights, the band depends on the great-circle distance between the departure airport and the final destination.

The amounts are expressed in euros but paid in Turkish lira, at the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye's foreign exchange selling rate on the day the compensation is paid. Before the amendment, the rate of the ticket purchase date was used.

The airline may reduce the compensation by 50% when it offers you an alternative flight that arrives within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original schedule, depending on the distance (Article 8).

Distances between the UK and the main Turkish holiday airports

Direct flights between the main UK airports and Turkey's holiday airports all fall in the 1,500 to 3,500 km band. Under SHY, that means €400 per passenger; under UK261, £350. The ranges below are great-circle distances to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, London Stansted, London Luton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Belfast International, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Delays: 3 hours or more at your final destination

The amendment of 10 December 2024 added Article 7(3): when a flight is delayed for technical or operational reasons and you reach your planned final destination 3 hours or more late, the operating airline must pay the compensation of Article 8 and offer the refund or re-routing of Article 9. What counts is the arrival delay, not the departure delay.

During the wait, the airline must also provide care, such as meals and refreshments, and accommodation when an overnight stay becomes necessary (Article 7).

Cancellations

If your flight is cancelled, compensation is generally due unless you were told at least two weeks before the scheduled departure. When you were told between two weeks and seven days before, or less than seven days before, the airline can avoid compensation only by offering an alternative flight within the time limits set by Article 6. It is for the airline to prove when it informed you.

Whatever the notice, the airline must let you choose between a refund of the ticket within seven days and re-routing to your final destination, as soon as possible or at a later date of your choice (Article 9).

Extraordinary circumstances

The airline does not have to pay fixed compensation if it proves that the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Article 4 gives examples: political instability, weather conditions incompatible with the flight, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes affecting the airline's operations.

When such a cause is likely, no fixed compensation should be expected, but your rights to care, refund or re-routing remain. Each case deserves a check of what actually happened on the day.

Related guide: Extraordinary circumstances under UK261: when airlines can refuse

Let FlightClaimHQ check your flight

Enter your flight details in our free check: it tells you which rules are likely to apply (UK261, EU261 or SHY) and gives an estimate, in pounds for UK261 and in euros for SHY. If your flight qualifies, we prepare the claim, send it to the airline and follow it up until the compensation is paid. No win, no fee: 25% incl. VAT, only if your claim succeeds.

Related guide: How to make a UK261 claim: flight compensation in 4 steps with FlightClaimHQ

Sources for this guide

• SHY-YOLCU regulation, Articles 1 to 4 and table of contents (Lexpera, in Turkish)
• 2024 amendment, Official Gazette No. 32748 of 10 December 2024: delays and amounts (Mondaq)
• UK261, Article 3: scope (legislation.gov.uk)

My Jet2 flight from Antalya to Manchester was 4 hours late. UK261 or SHY?

Jet2 is a UK airline, so UK261 applies to its flights to the UK, as well as SHY because the flight departs from Turkey. FlightClaimHQ claims under UK261: £350 per passenger for this distance, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.

My Pegasus flight from Dalaman to London was cancelled the day before. Can I claim?

Pegasus is a Turkish airline flying from Turkey to a non-EU country, so UK261 does not apply but SHY does. With less than seven days' notice, €400 per passenger may be due for this distance, unless the airline offered an alternative flight within the time limits or proves extraordinary circumstances.

In which currency is SHY compensation paid?

In Turkish lira. The amount in euros is converted at the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye's foreign exchange selling rate on the day of payment.

Does SHY cover delays of less than 3 hours?

No fixed compensation is due below 3 hours of delay at the final destination, although the airline must still provide care during the wait.

Can FlightClaimHQ handle a claim under SHY?

Yes. FlightClaimHQ studies every case, works out which rules apply and handles the claim with nothing to pay upfront: 25% incl. VAT, only if your claim succeeds.

Published by FlightClaimHQ (TETRIS GROUP LLC) · Last reviewed: 4 November 2026