Istanbul Sabiha Airport Compensation for Flight Delays & Cancellations: Live Updates

Amy Lancelotte

By:  Amy Lancelotte

Last Updated:  May 26, 2025

When you’re stuck at Istanbul Sabiha Airport waiting out annoying delays or replacement options for cancelled flights, there may be some compensation available to ease the inconvenience.

Certain flights to or from Europe are covered by Regulation EU261, and the same goes for the UK under UK261. Additionally, passenger rights in Turkey are similar to these regulations for flight cancellations only. Travellers can get a maximum of €600 (£520) AND have airport delay conveniences, like hotels and meals, covered by the airline.

As the airline compensation experts since 2017, AirAdvisor is trusted by over 450,000 passengers. We hold airlines accountable and fight for the maximum payout every time.

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Istanbul Sabiha Airport – Passenger Rights

With EU261, UK261, and SHY-PASSENGER, passengers can claim the following, depending on the circumstances:

• Compensation up to €600
• Assistance in the form of meals, communication, hotel stays, and transport
• Flight refunds

Delays Exceeding 3 Hours

For certain flights that are delayed by at least 3 hours, EU261 and UK261 are triggered. The payout amount will depend on the route, flight distance, total delay length, and the cause of the Istanbul Sabiha Airport delay.

Flight Cancellations & Refunds

If an Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight is cancelled, passengers can potentially claim compensation using SHY-PASSENGER, EU261, or UK261 as a guide. The notification period, the total interruption time, the flight distance, and the root cause are taken into account.

First, when an Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight gets cancelled, passengers are entitled to a replacement flight or a refund, regardless of the cancellation timeframe or reason. Compensation is also possible when passengers are notified of the cancellation fewer than 14 days before the scheduled flight. 

But not all re-routed flights are eligible. For example, the airline does not have to issue compensation under Regulation EU261 if:

• Notice is given between 7 and 14 days, and the replacement flight leaves no more than 2 hours before and arrives less than 4 hours after the original.
• Notice is less than 7 days, and the new flight departs no more than 1 hour before and lands less than 2 hours after the original.

Lost Luggage at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

When checking baggage at Istanbul Sabiha Airport, if it’s not returned within 21 days, it’s considered lost, and passengers can claim up to €1,860 (1,519 Special Drawing Rights), according to the Montreal Convention. This depends on the value of the items inside, and a claim must be filed within 7 days.

Passenger Rights in Case of Istanbul Sabiha Airport Flight Delays

Some passengers are eligible for cash compensation when an Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight is delayed by at least 3 hours. And, while waiting at the airport, airlines are required to keep you comfortable, referred to as the right to care. You can get the following, based on the Istanbul Sabiha Airport wait time and flight distance:

Istanbul Sabiha Airport Flight Delay Compensation

Getting an airline to pay out Istanbul Sabiha Airport delay compensation can be tricky. It’s crucial to keep all documents. Hold on to your boarding pass and get the reason for the delay in writing whenever possible. Not that SHY-PASSENGER regulations do not offer any compensation in the event of a delay, so you’ll rely on either EU261 or UK261.

Make sure you file your Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight delay compensation quickly. Time limits differ from country to country. In Turkey, passengers have 2 years to claim.

Delayed Flight Requirements for Compensation

1. Your flight departs from the EU or UK on any airline; and
2. The flight is delayed by 3 hours+; and
3. The airline is the cause of the delay

How Much Can You Claim for Istanbul Sabiha Airport Delays

It’s simple, the maximum compensation is based on the overall flight distance:

• Up to 1,500 km: €250
• 1,500 km to 3,500 km: €400
• Over 3,500 km: €600*

*Note that for flights over 3,500km, if the delay is between 3 and 4 hours, airlines will attempt to reduce this to €300. At AirAdvisor, we always go for the maximum amount.

The Istanbul Sabiha Airport EU261 Cancelled Flight Law 

Like with delays, passengers can claim up to €600 for cancelled flights at Istanbul Sabiha Airport. As long as a passenger received less than 14 days' notice, the flight cancellation is directly caused by the airline, and there’s a minimum 3-hour delay at the final destination, EU261, UK261, and SHY-PASSENGER can all apply.

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Istanbul Sabiha Airport Cancelled Flight Compensation & Refund

For ease, let’s focus on EU261 only. Arriving flights at Istanbul Sabiha Airport that departed from either the UK or EU meet the requirements for EU261.

Cancelled Flight Requirements for Compensation

To claim up to the maximum of €600 under both the EU and Turkish regulations, an Istanbul Sabiha Airport cancelled flight must:

• Depart from the EU on any airline
• Arrive in the EU on an EU or UK airline
• Depart from Turkey on any airline
• Arrive in Turkey on a Turkish airline
• Be cancelled with less than 14 days' notice

Can I Get a Refund for my Flight from Istanbul Sabiha Airport? 

Yes, passengers can get a full refund or choose to re-book if a cancelled flight departs from Istanbul Sabiha Airport. Additionally, once a flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, passengers can choose not to continue travelling and get a refund.

Istanbul Sabiha Airport Cancelled Flight Compensation You Can Claim

The amount of Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight cancellation compensation that passengers can claim differs based on when the flight is cancelled. Other factors include the flight distance and the delay time of the replacement flight compared to the original one:

Flights Cancelled Within 7 to 14 Days

Flights Cancelled Within 7 days

Note that with SHY-PASSENGER, domestic Turkey flights qualify for compensation of €100 if all other conditions are met.

Delayed, Lost, or Damaged Baggage at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

Not only do passengers have protection for flight interruptions, but lost, damaged, or delayed baggage may also entitle passengers to compensation up to approximately €1,860 (1,519 SDR).

• A bag is considered lost if it’s been delayed for at least 21 days
• File a claim within 7 days of the delay, damage, or once it’s declared lost
• Prove the value of the luggage contents with receipts
• For delayed baggage, airlines will cover the bare essentials
• Prove damage with photos

Istanbul Sabiha Airport Delays & Cancellations: Top Reasons

Your Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight can encounter a disruption for various reasons. The main causes of delays and cancellations include poor weather conditions and scheduling errors.

Air Traffic Control Restrictions at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

ATC is an absolutely crucial service at any airport, so when there are restrictions, planes get backed up, causing cascading delays and potential cancellations. 

Airline Operational Issues

Airport issues are not the only causes of flight delays and cancellations, airlines also experience problems that result in significant disruptions. When there isn’t enough staff, scheduling errors occur, or there’s an airline-wide strike, passengers can expect delays.

Turkish Airlines has been cancelling many routes lately. Although this is not strictly the airline’s fault, routes to places like Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, and Mali were cancelled due to political and civil unrest in 2024 and 2025.

Strikes at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

Strikes by an entire group (like security or baggage handling) at the airport will ground flights in record time. These are rare, but recently, chaos ensued at Istanbul Sabiha due to a national strike in Greece. The airport operates many flights to Greece, and in April 2025, Turkish Airlines was especially affected. The carrier had to cancel multiple flights to and from Athens and Thessaloniki.

Airport strikes are outside the airline’s control, therefore, compensation is not offered. Only airline-specific strikes qualify.

Delays / Cancellations due to Bad Weather Conditions at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

In February 2025, significant snowfall resulted in mass cancellations of hundreds of flights at Istanbul Sabiha. Both Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines were the most affected.

Other Incidents at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

Although less common, passengers may also experience disruptions due to security threats, runway closures, or technical problems within the airport. 

Istanbul Sabiha Airport interruptions can either be due to extraordinary circumstances, which are outside the airline’s control, or something caused by the airline. When extraordinary circumstances, like airport strikes and poor weather, are the cause, EU261 compensation is not payable.

Top 5 Airlines Affected by Delays & Cancellations at Istanbul Sabiha Airport

In March 2025, Istanbul Sabiha was rated the fastest-growing airport in Europe, with the capacity to serve over 40 million passengers annually. This is an increase of 9.6%, and all this growth may cause more delays and cancellations. These airlines are the most likely to be affected:

• Pegasus Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• AJet (formerly AnadoluJet)
• British Airways
• easyJet

Claim Istanbul Sabiha Airport Flight Compensation With AirAdvisor

When you’ve experienced an annoying cancellation or delay, it’s easy to file a claim with AirAdvisor. In fact, it takes less than 5 minutes. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Gather your documents: This includes boarding passes, any airline or airport written correspondence, and proof of the interruption.
2. Submit the claim: File a claim online here. Enter the details of your flight and add your contact details. Then, attach your supporting documents and submit.
3. Sit back and relax: We’ll process everything for you and communicate back and forth with the airline. Claims are typically resolved successfully in 4-6 weeks.

File your Istanbul Sabiha Airport compensation claim ASAP to get what you’re owed. Don’t risk forgetting to make the claim or losing important details and documents!

Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 compensationFind out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight

Istanbul Sabiha Airport Questions and Answers

Author:

Amy Lancelotte

Job/Position: Editor

Amy Lancelotte is a writer, editor, and content strategist with seven years experience writing about travel and related topics. Born and raised in Canada, she has spent several years living and working as a digital nomad in England, Italy, and France, and has spent more time in airport departure lounges than she wants to think about.