Turkish Airlines (code TK) is the national airline of Turkey. It is not an EU-based airline, so Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies only to Turkish Airlines flights departing from an EU country, for example, Bucharest, Cluj, or Timișoara → Istanbul. For flights from Istanbul → Romania, Turkish rules apply, which involve lower compensation amounts.
When you are entitled to compensation from Turkish Airlines
- The flight arrived at its final destination with at least 3 hours delay (the arrival time counts, not the departure time).
- The flight was cancelled and you were notified less than 14 days before departure.
- You were denied boarding (overbooking) or missed a connection within a single booking due to a delayed flight.
- Amount: €250 for distances up to 1,500 km, €400 between 1,500 and 3,500 km (and for all flights within the EU over 1,500 km), €600 for distances over 3,500 km.
- Turkish Airlines is not an EU airline, so the regulation applies only to flights departing from an EU country (e.g., from Romania). It does not apply to the return flight to Romania.
- You do not receive compensation if the delay was caused by weather, an air traffic control strike, or other extraordinary circumstances. Technical defects and airline staff strikes are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
- In Romania, you have 3 years from the flight date to claim your money.
How to claim the money yourself from Turkish Airlines
- Submit your request via the feedback form on turkishairlines.com: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/
- You will need your booking code or ticket number (starting with 235), flight number and date, boarding pass, and your IBAN.
- If they refuse or do not respond within 30 days, you can file a complaint with ANPC for flights departing from Romania; for flights from other countries, contact the national authority in the country of departure (the official list is on the European Commission website).
Assignment and representation at Turkish Airlines
The Turkish Airlines General Conditions (February 2025 version) do not contain any clause prohibiting claims through recovery companies or assignment. For flights departing from Romania, an assignment made under Romanian law takes effect once the airline receives written notification.
Sources, verified on October 17, 2026: Turkish Airlines General Conditions of Carriage (February 2025).
Let us recover your money from Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is not an EU company and can be slow to respond to passenger requests. We check if your flight falls under the European regulation and handle the rest for you.
- It takes 2 minutes. Enter your flight, date, and email, and we will check the actual delay using flight data for free.
- No upfront costs. Our commission is 25% and you only pay it if we collect the money. If Turkish Airlines doesn't pay, you owe nothing.
- We tell you immediately if you are eligible. Only flights departing from the EU fall under the European regulation; we check this for you.
- We handle everything else: we track the 30-day deadline, follow up with the airline and, if they refuse without reason, we notify ANPC. You don't have to send any more emails.
- You receive 75% of the collected amount directly into your account, within 5 working days of collection. You can check your claim status anytime in the app, under "Tickets".
Prefer to claim it yourself? Follow the steps above and you get the full amount. Want to not worry about a thing? Start here:
Where to send your claim to Turkish Airlines
Recently delayed or cancelled Turkish Airlines flights
| Date | Flight | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | TK 1046 | OTP → IST | Departed +46 min |
| Fri 16 Oct | TK 1348 | CLJ → IST | Departed +21 min |
| Fri 16 Oct | TK 1045 | IST → OTP | Landed +22 min |
| Fri 16 Oct | TK 1040 | OTP → IST | Departed +50 min |