When a flight is delayed, the updates you are entitled to—and any care, refund, or compensation—depend on the route and the rules that apply. “Codec updates” is wordplay here: airline flight-delay notices are not software codec updates, and IATA delay codes are a separate reporting concept.
What “codec updates” means in this article
A software codec encodes or decodes digital media; it has no role in notifying passengers about a delayed flight. IATA delay codes are a different concept: a secondary overview describes them as standardized reporting codes, but that description is not enough to establish the details of the IATA system. This guide focuses on the practical question raised by a delay: when airlines must update passengers and what remedies may apply.
How delay updates differ by jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction and source | When updates are required | What the rule or guidance covers |
|---|---|---|
| United States — 14 CFR § 259.8 | For a qualifying delay of at least 30 minutes within seven calendar days of the planned flight date, notice is due within 30 minutes after the carrier becomes aware of the qualifying status change. | Covered carriers must promptly inform ticketed passengers and the public. Notices must appear at the gate, on the carrier’s website, and through its telephone reservation system. If the carrier offers subscription flight-status notifications, it must send them through the subscriber’s chosen offered method. Carrier-controlled displays at US airports must also be updated within 30 minutes. |
| Canada — Air Passenger Protection Regulations, section 13 | During a delay, status updates are required every 30 minutes until a new departure time is set or alternate arrangements have been made; new information must be shared as soon as feasible. | Information includes the disruption’s reason, possible compensation, any applicable standard of treatment, and recourse. The cited government page states the regulations were current to 2026-09-21. |
| United Kingdom — UK Civil Aviation Authority passenger guidance | The guidance links care to the length and distance of the delay: at least two hours for flights under 1,500 km, and at least three hours for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km. | UK261 may apply. The CAA says compensation may be due if arrival is more than three hours late. If the delay exceeds five hours, a passenger can choose not to travel and receive a refund. Route eligibility and individual circumstances matter. |
| European Union — Council of the European Union passenger-rights overview | The Council says passengers could be entitled to compensation when a flight arrives more than three hours late, subject to conditions. | The Council summarizes coverage for flights within the EU, departures from the EU to a non-EU country, and arrivals in the EU from a non-EU country on an EU airline. Its overview gives compensation amounts by route and distance, detailed below. |
Possible remedies in the UK and EU
UK: care, compensation, or a refund
Under the CAA’s summary of UK261, eligible passengers may receive care while waiting. Compensation may be due when they reach their destination more than three hours late. If a delay exceeds five hours, passengers can choose not to travel and receive a refund. These are conditional rights, not automatic payments for every delayed flight; check whether the route and circumstances are covered.
EU: compensation depends on route, distance, and circumstances
The Council of the European Union summarizes these amounts for qualifying cases in which a flight arrives more than three hours late:
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- €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less.
- €400 for intra-EU flights, or flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km.
- €600 for other flights.
The Council presents these as amounts passengers could be entitled to, not guaranteed compensation. Coverage and individual conditions determine whether a claim qualifies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2026 EU agreement does—and does not establish
On June 15, 2026, the Council reported a Council–Parliament political agreement on strengthening passenger rights, including clearer information, assistance, rerouting, and compensation. The announcement describes an agreement; by itself, it does not establish that every provision is already legally adopted or applicable. The Council’s June 15 release quotes Cyprus transport minister Alexis Vafeades calling it a “landmark agreement.” That is his characterization of the political agreement, not a measure of its legal effect. For current entitlements, distinguish the existing rules summarized in the Council’s passenger-rights overview from changes whose adoption or application date has not been established here.
Quick Recap
What to do while waiting for an update
- Check the airline’s official channels. Look at the airport gate display, the carrier’s website, and its reservation or notification service. In the US, the cited rule specifies these channels for covered carriers and qualifying status changes.
- Keep a record of the delay. Save airline messages and note the scheduled and actual arrival times. Arrival delay is central to the UK and EU compensation summaries; the US and Canadian provisions described above concern passenger information.
- Ask what the delay means for your itinerary. Request the reason, the latest departure estimate, and whether the airline is offering alternate arrangements. Canadian rules specifically include information about the reason and recourse.
- Check the rules for your route before deciding. A departure country, arrival country, airline, flight distance, and the circumstances of the disruption can affect eligibility. Do not assume a threshold or remedy from one jurisdiction applies worldwide.
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