Turkish regulations on air passenger rights

Flying to, from, or within Turkey? Then you’re protected by the Turkish Regulation on Air Passenger Rights (SHY PASSENGER). What does this mean? If your flight gets canceled, delayed, or you are denied boarding, this regulation ensures you’re taken care of and still get to your destination. For some cancellations or denied boardings, you may also be able to claim up to €600 compensation in Turkish Lira.

The Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation sets rules that all airlines flying in Turkey must abide by. These include the Turkish Regulation on Air Passenger Rights (SHY PASSENGER).

Just as in many other countries, these regulations set the standards for the treatment of air passengers. They ensure that if flights don’t go to plan, airlines must take care of their passengers, ensuring they have food, drink, and accommodation. They also control airlines' responsibility to get their passengers to their final destination (or pay a full and fair refund) and give passengers the right to compensation in the event of flight cancellations and denied boarding. 

Air passenger rights in Turkey are heavily influenced by regulation EC 261 in Europe, and set a similar standard of compensation and strong protection for passengers.

The Turkish Regulation on Air Passenger Rights says passengers could be owed up to €600 compensation for flight cancellations and denied boarding. 

Here's how much compensation you can get under Turkish regulations:

Who is covered by Turkish air passenger rights?

Which situations are covered by Turkish air passenger rights?

What is Force Majure, and what does it mean?

What information must airlines provide?

What care must airlines provide under Turkish law?

Will I get a replacement flight or refund?

What rights do Turkish passenger laws give travelers with restricted mobility or special needs?

What do Turkish laws say about children traveling alone?

What do Turkish air passenger rights say about upgrades and downgrades?

What else do Turkish air passenger rights say?

Who is covered by Turkish air passenger rights?

Turkish passenger protections apply to everyone departing from a Turkish airport, as well as everyone who arrives at a Turkish airport with a Turkish airline.

Your nationality, age, and how you bought your ticket are not important. Turkish passenger rights apply to all. You just need to have a confirmed reservation and have followed the airline’s rules, like getting to the airport and checking in on time. 

Which situations are covered by Turkish air passenger rights?

Turkish passenger rights apply to all the following types of flight disruption:

Flight cancellations

If your airline cancels your flight, Turkish regulations say that they must offer you an alternative flight to your destination (or a refund if you prefer), provide you with food, drink, and accommodation appropriate for the delay, and that they should pay you up to €600 compensation in Turkish lira if they canceled your flight less than 2 weeks before departure. 

Denied boarding

Turkish air passenger rights say that if the airline foresees that they’re going to have to deny some passengers boarding, they must first attempt to find volunteers to give up their seats.

If no passengers volunteer, the airline essentially gets to choose who they deny boarding to. If you’re one of those unlucky passengers, here’s what you need to know: they must give you an alternative flight (or full refund), care (such as food and accommodation), and the equivalent of €600 in Turkish lira in compensation. 

Flight delays

Unlike the very similar European regulation, EC 261, Turkish air passenger rights do not explicitly give passengers the right to compensation for flight delays.

If your Turkish flight was delayed, you can still use our Compensation Checker — we’ll let you know if you can claim under other laws. 

But Turkish laws do say that passengers who face flight delays must receive care during the delay, and have the option to abandon their trip and receive a full refund if they’re delayed longer than 5 hours.

What is Force Majure, and what does it mean?

Turkish air passenger rights differentiate between disruptions that are an airline’s fault, and those that are due to a force majeure; exceptional circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control.

Some examples of force majeure:

• Extreme weather

• Volcanic eruption

• Wars or terrorist threats

This is important, because if your flight delay or denied boarding was due to a force majeure, the airline is not required to pay compensation, though they are still responsible for your care and onward transportation. 

What information must airlines provide?

Turkish air passenger rights say that airlines must display the following text in English and Turkish at the check-in counter or boarding gate:

Please request the text from the check-in counter or boarding gate which states your rights for the service you will be provided in case that your boarding is denied, your flight is canceled or delayed at least for two hours.

Additionally, if the airline denies you boarding or cancels your flight, they are required to provide you with a ​​written notification that also informs you of the compensation and assistance you’re entitled to. 

What care must airlines provide under Turkish law?

If your flight is canceled, overbooked, or delayed, the airline has an obligation to provide you with essential care until you are underway. 

Here’s what you should receive:

Any time: Communication (2 phone calls, faxes, or emails)

Between 2-3 hours: Hot and cold drinks

Between 3-5 hours: Meals (breakfast or lunch)

After 5+ hours: Additional drinks, snacks, and meals appropriate to the time of day

If you’re going to be delayed overnight, the airline must provide you with accommodation and a transfer, if needed.

We should note that in the case of delays, these rights only kick in after a specific length of delay:

Will I get a replacement flight or refund?

Yes, in all cases of flight cancellation or denied boarding, Turkish air passenger rights say you’re entitled to a refund or alternative route to your destination. 

The law outlines the following 3 options: 

1. A replacement flight at the earliest opportunity

2. A replacement flight on an alternative date suitable for you

3. A full refund of the original price you paid for the flight ticket
   

You can request a refund once the delay lasts over 5 hours. But this also means you agree not to travel on the flight. In case you already traveled on the first leg of a connecting flight, but don’t want to continue, you’ll be returned to the point of departure free of charge, and still given a refund.

What rights do Turkish passenger laws give travelers with restricted mobility or special needs?

The laws say that airlines must give priority to people with restricted mobility and the person (or registered care dog) accompanying them. 

If there are disruptions such as denied boarding, cancellation, or delays, people with restricted mobility must be provided with the care they are entitled to as soon as possible. 

The law also specifies that appropriate communication methods should be provided for sight-disabled people.

What do Turkish laws say about children traveling alone?

Under Turkish air passenger rights, airlines must also give priority to children traveling alone. In the event of disruptions, children must be provided with the care they’re entitled to as soon as possible.

What do Turkish air passenger rights say about upgrades and downgrades?

If you ever get upgraded by the airline, the good news is that under Turkish air passenger rights, the airline can’t ask you to pay for this.

Conversely, if you’re downgraded by the airline for some reason, the laws say you must be compensated. In this case the airline must pay you the difference in the ticket price (on the day you bought it) in addition to:

What else do Turkish air passenger rights say? 

The laws are clear on the fact that passengers are entitled to monetary compensation. They specify that airlines can pay you in cash, bank transfer, or check. They can only pay you in travel vouchers or other services if you agree to it. 

Amounts in Turkish air passenger rights are given in euros rather than Turkish lira. So to clear up debates around exchange rates, the law says that the conversion rate of the Turkish Republic Central Bank on the day the ticket was purchased should be used. 

The regulations recognise that you may be able to claim compensation under other laws, and they specify that Turkish air passenger rights don’t affect your rights to compensation under other laws or from other responsible parties. However, don’t think this means you can claim compensation from the airline twice! The regulations also say the amount of compensation you’ve claimed elsewhere may be deducted from the amount you claim under Turkish air passenger rights. 

To avoid confusion over the distance of a flight, the regulation specifies that the distance should be calculated using the great circle method.

Finally, the laws also address the importance of the airline always delivering passengers to the agreed destination. So, should your flight ever be forced to change its destination (don’t worry, it’s rare and usually only happens due to some force majeure) the airline is always responsible for transporting you and your fellow passengers to your original destination.

If you think you are entitled to compensation under Turkish law, you can apply for it directly from the airline. 

Alternatively, AirHelp can help take care of your claim for you to save you the hassle. We will check your flight against multiple air passenger rights, including Turkey, and proceed under the laws that offer you the best chance of a successful claim and fair compensation.

Disclaimer:

We make every effort to accurately and simply explain your air passenger rights, however we cannot guarantee that our information is always error-free or up to date. Please note that our explanations do not constitute legal advice.