Article 3 — Scope
Air passenger rights, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
What does Regulation 261/2004 Article 3 say?
Short answer, straight from the official text
1. This Regulation shall apply: (a) to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies; (b) to passengers departing from an airport located in a third country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, unless they received …
Source: Air passenger rights, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, read 2026-10-14.
| In the act | EU 261/2004 |
| CELEX | 32004R0261 |
| Read on | 2026-10-14 |
Official text
Read from the EU Publications Office for this CELEX number. The wording stands as published; nothing here is rewritten or summarised.
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1. This Regulation shall apply:
(a) to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies;
(b) to passengers departing from an airport located in a third country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, unless they received benefits or compensation and were given assistance in that third country, if the operating air carrier of the flight concerned is a Community carrier.
2. Paragraph 1 shall apply on the condition that passengers:
(a) have a confirmed reservation on the flight concerned and, except in the case of cancellation referred to in Article 5, present themselves for check-in,
- as stipulated and at the time indicated in advance and in writing (including by electronic means) by the air carrier, the tour operator or an authorised travel agent,
or, if no time is indicated,
- not later than 45 minutes before the published departure time; or
(b) have been transferred by an air carrier or tour operator from the flight for which they held a reservation to another flight, irrespective of the reason.
3. This Regulation shall not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at a reduced fare not available directly or indirectly to the public. However, it shall apply to passengers having tickets issued under a frequent flyer programme or other commercial programme by an air carrier or tour operator.
4. This Regulation shall only apply to passengers transported by motorised fixed wing aircraft.
The article continues in the official text.
The same rule in other acts
These articles carry the same official heading. The wording is not identical; read each text at its own source.
- AI Act Article 2 — Scope
- NIS2 Article 2 — Scope
- DSA Article 2 — Scope
- PSD2 Article 2 — Scope
The text is quoted from the official source and is not legal advice. A national court reads the language version that binds in its jurisdiction.
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