Why delays are so common at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is one of Europe's busiest hubs, with three terminal complexes and a dense long-haul network. Slot congestion at peak hours, knock-on delays from a late inbound aircraft, air traffic control restrictions, weather and technical issues all contribute. Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, however, only some of these causes trigger a right to fixed financial compensation — and the distinction is stricter than most passengers assume.
When a delay at CDG qualifies for compensation
What matters is not how late the aircraft pushed back, but how late you reached your final destination. European case law (Sturgeon, confirmed in Nelson) defines arrival as the moment at least one aircraft door opens and passengers are allowed to leave.
- Three hours or more late at the final destination: compensation may be due.
- Under three hours: no fixed compensation, but care and assistance rights still apply.
- Cancellations notified less than 14 days before departure also fall within the scheme, subject to re-routing timing rules.
The Regulation covers every flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline's nationality. A CDG–New York flight with a US carrier is therefore protected. A New York–CDG flight is only protected if operated by an EU carrier.
Compensation amounts: €250, €400 or €600
- €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less (e.g. CDG–Barcelona, CDG–Milan).
- €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km (e.g. CDG–Athens, CDG–Marrakech).
- €600 for flights over 3,500 km between an EU airport and a non-EU country (e.g. CDG–Montreal, CDG–Dubai, CDG–Tokyo).
These sums are fixed and payable per passenger. They do not depend on the ticket price, the cabin booked, or whether the fare was discounted. Infants travelling on a lap without a paid seat are generally excluded.
Extraordinary circumstances: the airline's main defence
An airline can refuse compensation if it proves the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Courts typically accept severe weather, air traffic control strikes, airspace closures, security threats and bird strikes.
Conversely, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that routine technical failures inherent in normal aircraft maintenance, and strikes by the airline's own staff, do not qualify. So a vague "technical issue" announced at the gate in Terminal 2 does not end the discussion: the burden of proof lies with the carrier.
Your rights while waiting in the terminal
Separately from compensation, the airline owes you assistance once the departure delay reaches:
- 2 hours for flights of 1,500 km or less;
- 3 hours for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500–3,500 km;
- 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km.
Assistance means meals and refreshments proportionate to the waiting time, two communications, and — where departure is postponed to the next day — hotel accommodation and airport transfers. If the delay exceeds five hours, you may abandon the trip and request a refund of the unused ticket within seven days.
Step-by-step: what to do at CDG
- On the spot: photograph the departure board showing the delay, keep your boarding pass and baggage tags, and note the actual arrival time.
- Request a written statement from the airline desk or the terminal service point, mentioning the announced cause of the delay.
- Keep every receipt for meals, hotels or transport if the airline failed to provide care: reasonable expenses can be reimbursed on proof.
- Submit a written claim to the operating carrier, stating the flight number, date, scheduled and actual arrival times, and the amount claimed under Article 7.
Missed connections at CDG
Because CDG is a hub, a 40-minute delay on a feeder flight can turn into several hours of delay at the end of the journey. Where both legs are part of a single booking, the delay is measured at the final destination and the distance used is that of the whole itinerary. Two separately purchased tickets do not benefit from this rule.
How far back can you claim?
Claims can be pursued for flights operated up to three years ago. A disrupted departure from CDG in 2024 or 2025 may still be actionable, provided you can evidence the booking and the disruption.
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