LHR
London
CDG
Paris
London to Paris
Flight Compensation
Europe's busiest short-haul route, dominated by BA and Air France.
LHR–CDG is the highest-frequency city-pair in Europe, with 10+ daily flights. British Airways and Air France operate this ultra-competitive route with razor-thin turnarounds. Delays stem almost entirely from LHR departure management and Paris TMA congestion — both foreseeable, routine factors. Passengers delayed 3+ hours are owed £220 per person.
£220
Max compensation (UK261 tier 1)
341 km
Route distance
1h 5m
Scheduled flight time
Max Compensation
£220
per passenger · LHR departures
≤ 1,500 km · Short-haul
Average processing: 35 days
Free check · 6 years limit · No fee unless we win
01Route Intelligence
LHR–CDG is Europe's second-busiest short-haul route after Paris–London Gatwick, with 3.8 million passengers annually. Average delay: 16 minutes (Eurocontrol CODA). Over 80% of delays originate at LHR or CDG TMA, not en route.
Our Success Rate
80%
on LHR–CDG claims
Average Payout
£196
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
June – September
Summer leisure peak, LHR capacity limits, CDG arrival bank congestion
December 19 – January 2
Holiday schedule compression, maximum load factors, minimal crew scheduling flexibility
Key Legal Nuance on This Route
What Makes LHR–CDG Claims Different
This is the lowest-disruption intercontinental route in the dataset, but delays are still common due to infrastructure constraints. Airlines running 65-minute block times on a 341 km route have minimal schedule flexibility. Claim success is very high on this route.
02Airlines on This Route
Who operates LHR–CDG, their delay record, and how they resist claims.
British Airways
BAAvg Delay
18min
Claim Success
82%
How BA Resists Claims on This Route
BA cites 'Paris TMA congestion' and 'DGAC flow control'. However, Paris congestion is entirely foreseeable on Europe's busiest route. BA's defense is weak on this route.
Air France
AFAvg Delay
22min
Claim Success
78%
How AF Resists Claims on This Route
Air France argues 'slot restrictions at CDG due to capacity'. However, CDG slot management is routine and predictable, not extraordinary.
03Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays on LHR–CDG — and whether each is extraordinary under UK261.
LHR Departure Slot Restrictions (NATS Flow)
~55% of delays
NATS issues ground delays of 15–40 minutes, pushing back the actual departure.
Routine, daily occurrence at LHR. Not extraordinary circumstances.
Paris CDG TMA Arrival Congestion
~35% of delays
CDG arrival procedures create holding patterns and extended descent profiles, especially during peak arrival windows.
Foreseeable, routine CDG congestion. Not extraordinary.
Late Inbound Aircraft
~10% of delays
Aircraft on the reverse rotation (CDG–LHR) arrives late, delaying the next LHR–CDG departure.
Airlines must use alternative aircraft or accept the cascade. Aircraft substitution is feasible on this high-frequency route.
04How We Handle LHR–CDG Claims
You submit your flight details
2 minutes. Flight number, date, and what happened. We identify the operating carrier automatically — critical for codeshare routes.
We verify the LHR–CDG specific cause
LHR–CDG is straightforward: we verify the flight in NATS and Eurocontrol records, confirm the delay and compensation amount.
Submission, escalation, and payment
Settlement rate is very high. Escalation to CAA is rare.
05UK261 on LHR–CDG
UK261 applies because LHR is a UK airport
Your departure airport (LHR, London) is in United Kingdom. UK261 covers all flights departing UK airports, regardless of airline nationality or destination. The fact that your destination (CDG, Paris) is in France does not change the applicable regulation.
Enforcement Body
UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
Claim Time Limit
6 years from flight date
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew LHR–CDG.
Is CDG 'congestion' an excuse for delay?
No. CDG is Europe's third-busiest airport. Its congestion is foreseeable and routine. Airlines must allow schedule buffers.
My flight was just 45 minutes late. Can I claim?
No. UK261 applies only to 3+ hour arrival delays. You would need 3 hours or more of delay to qualify.
What if my flight was cancelled instead?
If cancelled less than 14 days before scheduled departure without a proper alternative, you are entitled to £220 (or refund).
Do I need to prove I suffered loss to claim?
No. UK261 is a strict-liability regulation. As long as you were delayed 3+ hours and the flight departed from a UK airport, you are entitled to compensation regardless of personal damages.
Ready to Claim?
Start Your LHR → CDG Claim
No win, no fee. We verify the exact delay cause, identify the operating carrier, and submit directly to UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) if needed.