Icelandair EU261 Compensation — Both Directions Covered
Icelandair (IATA: FI) is Iceland's national airline. Because Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Icelandair is treated as an EU carrier for EU261 purposes — which means compensation applies in both directions, including flights arriving from the US and Canada into Europe.
🔁 Why Icelandair is different: both directions covered
For non-EU carriers (Emirates, Delta, etc.) EU261 only applies when the flight departs from an EU/UK airport. For Icelandair — as an EEA carrier — EU261 applies regardless of direction:
- ✓ London → Reykjavik (departing EU) → covered
- ✓ New York → Reykjavik → London (arriving EU on EEA carrier) → covered
- ✓ Boston → Reykjavik (arriving in Iceland, EEA) → covered
- ✓ Toronto → Reykjavik → Paris → covered for the full journey delay
Same rule applies to Norwegian Air Shuttle and Norse Atlantic Airways — all EEA-registered carriers trigger EU261 both ways.
Compensation amounts — Icelandair routes
| Route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| London (LHR/LGW) ↔ Reykjavik (KEF) | ~1,900 km | €400 |
| Manchester (MAN) ↔ Reykjavik (KEF) | ~1,800 km | €400 |
| Paris (CDG) ↔ Reykjavik (KEF) | ~2,000 km | €400 |
| Amsterdam (AMS) ↔ Reykjavik (KEF) | ~2,100 km | €400 |
| New York (JFK) → Reykjavik (KEF) — transatlantic | ~5,600 km | €600 |
| Boston (BOS) / Toronto (YYZ) → Reykjavik | ~5,000–6,500 km | €600 |
| US/Canada → Reykjavik → EU/UK (transit delay) | > 3,500 km | €600 |
Reykjavik–Europe routes are 1,500–3,500 km → €400. Transatlantic routes exceed 3,500 km → €600 with 4h+ delay.
Using Reykjavik as a transit hub
Many travellers use Icelandair to connect through Reykjavik between North America and Europe. If you were booked on a single ticket (e.g. JFK → KEF → LHR) and arrived at your final destination 3+ hours late, EU261 covers the entire journey — not just the Europe-leg. A missed connection in Reykjavik that made you arrive late in London = full €600 claim.
Claim deadlines by country
Find old Icelandair bookings in your inbox
SubRadar scans your Gmail or Outlook for Icelandair booking emails and flags potential EU261 claims — including transatlantic arrivals that most passengers don't know are covered.
Scan my flight emails freeFile with AirHelp — no win, no fee
AirHelp handles Icelandair EU261 claims including transatlantic routes. ~25% success fee only if they win.
Check your Icelandair claim →Also covered both directions (EEA carriers):