Originally Posted by
Often1
It is not remotely murky.
EC 261/2004 does not apply to flights between two points outside the "community" (EU). It does apply:
1. To all flights xEU regardless of carrier, and
2. To all flights to the EU on a "community" (EU) carrier.
As OP's flight was neither, the provision is inapplicable.
For purposes of EC 261/2004 only, include to Switzerland and SR as an EU carrier, not because Switzerland is in the EU, but because it has chosen to adopt EC 261/2004.
This is what I was told too- transit through an EU airport does not offer EC261 protection, either origin (in which case the carrier is irrelevant) or final destination (if on a community carrier) has to be in EU for compensation to apply.