Is it illegal for airlines to cancel flights?

If an airline cancels your flight, you're owed a cash refund. It's federal law: “A passenger is entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the passenger chooses not to be rebooked on a new flight on that airline.”



No, it is not illegal for an airline to cancel a flight, but in 2026, they are legally obligated to follow strict "passenger rights" regulations when they do so. Airlines have the right to cancel for "extraordinary circumstances" like weather, air traffic control strikes, or safety issues. However, under U.S. DOT rules and EU/UK 261 regulations, if the airline cancels your flight for any reason, they must offer you a full cash refund if you choose not to travel on the alternative they provide. In 2026, new mandates in several regions have closed the "voucher loophole," meaning airlines can no longer force you to take a credit shell instead of your money. If the cancellation is within the airline's control (like mechanical issues or crew scheduling) and happens close to departure, you may also be entitled to fixed financial compensation ranging from $250 to over $700 per person, plus meals and hotel accommodation. So while the act of canceling isn't a crime, "failing to compensate or refund" the passenger certainly is a violation of federal and international law.

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Flight cancellations can be caused by a variety of factors, such as bad weather, strikes, or technical issues with the aircraft. Passengers have certain rights if their flight is canceled, including the right to rebooking, a refund, or compensation under certain circumstances.

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There are a few exceptions to the rule that you have no way to bring legal action against the airline for canceling your flight. For example, if you are canceled from a flight because it is overbooked and they attempt to delay you without compensating you for the delay, you may have a cause of action for the delay.

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Remember, the airlines keep the money from the flights they cancel (more on that below). And if they don't fly the planes they sold tickets to, they collect these revenues without incurring the cost of delivering the advertised product.

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How the major airlines ranked for cancellations in 2022
  • Frontier Airlines – 2.87% of flights canceled.
  • Spirit Airlines – 3% of flights canceled.
  • Southwest Airlines – 3.26% of flights canceled.
  • Allegiant Air – 3.52% of flights canceled.
  • JetBlue Airways – 3.74% of flights canceled.


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If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including for ticket price, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges and ancillary fees. Travelers must receive that refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card, and within 20 days if by cash or check.

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Airlines are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to refund your money if you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking unless they offer a free 24-hour hold option when shopping for tickets.

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How do I accept or refuse a schedule change? Usually, you don't have to do anything when you agree to the schedule change. Just present yourself at the airport after checking-in. If you want a different flight or a refund, however, you must contact the airline.

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Covered reasons for Trip Cancellation
  • Medical reasons (unforeseen ailment, injury or death in the family)
  • Inclement weather or natural disasters (tropical storms, hurricanes, etc.)
  • Terrorist attack (in or around where you're planning to visit)
  • Financial default (of a carrier)
  • Involuntary layoff or termination.


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“It is 'normal' to expect around 1 to 2 percent of flights to be canceled,” said Gary Leff, author of ViewFromTheWing.com. He added that around 20 to 25 percent of flights are late by at least 15 minutes, though it's harder to track the range of how delayed flights are.

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Nonrefundable fares, on the other hand, cannot be returned for a full refund. Some nonrefundable fares can be canceled or changed for a partial refund in the form of an airline flight voucher, but rarely can you receive cash or credit card reimbursement for a canceled nonrefundable fare.

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If your flight is canceled, the airline will also offer you three options, which are: Rerouting you to your final destination. Refunding your ticket cost and booking you on a return flight to your original departure city (if you are on a connecting flight). Rebooking you for a flight at a later date.

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For the third year in a row, Hawaiian Airlines scored the top spot as the most reliable U.S. carrier across these metrics. It had the lowest cancellation rate (fewer than 1% of its scheduled flights were canceled) and bumped just four passengers out of the nearly 10 million people it carried in 2022.

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BTS data from July 2021 to June 2022 shows Hawaiian performed best of all U.S. airlines with just a 0.81% cancellation rate. Delta took second place again — with a cancellation rate of 1.63%. Meanwhile, merger partners JetBlue (3.81%) and Spirit Airlines (4.11%) canceled the highest percentage of all flights.

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There are several reasons why flights may be canceled, including bad weather, air traffic restrictions, lack of airplane or staff, technical problems, and low passenger numbers.

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