In brief
| Your situation | Main right |
|---|---|
| Paris-Nairobi flight, Air France, Lufthansa or Brussels Airlines, delay ≥ 3h | €600, both directions, unless extraordinary circumstances |
| Nairobi → Paris return on Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, Turkish, Qatar or Emirates | Not covered by EC 261 (non-EU carriers) |
| Paris → Nairobi outbound on these same non-EU carriers | €600, covered since departing the EU |
| Cancellation notified less than 14 days before | Compensation possible + refund or rerouting |
Am I entitled to compensation?
Yes, you may be entitled to €600 if your Paris-Nairobi flight arrives with at least 3h delay, subject to the other conditions. The delay is measured on arrival (doors opening), not at take-off. The fixed amount is due without you having to prove financial loss, unless the airline demonstrates an extraordinary circumstance (genuinely extreme weather, airspace closure, air traffic controllers' strike). A routine technical fault, even unforeseen, or an aircraft arriving late from its previous rotation never exempts the airline.
Strike: a strike by the airline's own staff is generally not an extraordinary circumstance (Krüsemann ruling, CJEU); a strike by an outside third party (air traffic controllers, general strike) may exempt it, if it proves it took all reasonable measures.
Distances and compensation
| Route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| CDG → NBO (Air France direct) | 6,340 km | €600 |
| NBO → CDG (Air France return) | 6,340 km | €600 |
| CDG → FRA → NBO (Lufthansa, single ticket) | > 6,340 km | €600 |
| CDG → NBO (Kenya Airways, single ticket) | 6,340 km | €600 (EU departure only) |
| NBO → CDG (Kenya Airways return) | 6,340 km | Not covered ✘ |
EU carriers - covered both ways ✔
- EUAir France - direct CDG-NBO flights, EC 261 both directions
- EULufthansa - via Frankfurt (FRA), single ticket CDG→FRA→NBO, EC 261 both directions
- EUBrussels Airlines - via Brussels (BRU), EC 261 both directions
Non-EU carriers - EU departure only ✔ / return ✘
- Non-EUKenya Airways (KQ) - Nairobi hub, SkyTeam, EC 261 only departing Paris
- Non-EUEthiopian Airlines (ET) - via Addis Ababa, EC 261 only departing Paris
- Non-EUTurkish Airlines (TK) - via Istanbul, EC 261 only departing Paris
- Non-EUQatar Airways (QR) - via Doha, EC 261 only departing Paris
- Non-EUEmirates (EK) - via Dubai, EC 261 only departing Paris
Frequent flights & eligibility
| Flight | Airline | EC 261 eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| AF814 (CDG→NBO) / AF815 (NBO→CDG) | Air France EU | ✔ both directions |
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation for a delayed Paris-Nairobi flight?
CDG → NBO = 6,340 km → €600 tier. Any arrival delay of 3h or more entitles you to €600 per passenger.
Does Air France fly directly Paris-Nairobi?
Yes, Air France operates direct CDG-NBO flights. EU carrier = EC 261 coverage both directions, outbound and return.
Is Kenya Airways covered for a Nairobi-Paris return?
No. Kenya Airways (non-EU carrier) is only covered for flights departing the EU. The NBO→CDG return on Kenya Airways does not entitle you to EC 261.
Does a strike cancel my rights on this route?
Not automatically. An internal strike by the airline's own staff (Air France, Kenya Airways...) is generally considered inherent to its operations and does not exempt it from compensation. A strike by an outside third party (air traffic controllers) may exempt it, if the airline proves it took all reasonable measures.
Sources and references
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 - Article 7 (compensation), Article 8 (refund/rerouting)
CJEU, Krüsemann ruling (C-195/17) - internal strike, assessed on the specific facts
Article 2224 of the French Civil Code - 5-year limitation period before French courts
Paris-Nairobi flight delayed? €600 may be waiting for you.
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