✈️ AeroStatute EU261 • UK261 • Montreal Convention
EC 261/2004 (€250–€600) UK261 (£220–£520) Montreal Convention (Up to 1,288 SDR / ~$1,700) 100% Private Browser Check

How Long Do You Have to Claim Flight Delay Compensation in Each Country?

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 leaves limitation periods to national law (More v KLM C-139/11). Compare statutory deadlines across the UK (6 yrs), France (5 yrs), Spain (5 yrs), Germany (3 yrs), Netherlands (2 yrs), and Belgium (1 yr).

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What happened on your journey?

Select the primary disruption to see the relevant statutory regime.

Key Statutory Rules & Public Aviation Law Summary

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 leaves limitation periods to national law (More v KLM C-139/11). Compare statutory deadlines across the UK (6 yrs), France (5 yrs), Spain (5 yrs), Germany (3 yrs), Netherlands (2 yrs), and Belgium (1 yr).

  • In More v KLM (C-139/11), the Court of Justice ruled that because EC 261/2004 contains no internal limitation period, the deadline is determined by the national law of the Member State where the claim is brought.
  • United Kingdom (England, Wales & NI): 6 years from the flight date (5 years in Scotland). Ireland: 6 years.
  • France & Spain: 5 years. Germany & Austria: 3 years, calculated to the end of the calendar year (§ 195 & § 199 BGB). Sweden & Norway: 3 years. Portugal: 3 years.
  • Netherlands & Italy: 2 years (Italy incorporates Montreal + 6 months buffer, approx. 2 years). Poland & Belgium: 1 year.
  • Tip: If a flight departed Germany to the UK on a UK airline (or vice versa), passengers can often file in the jurisdiction with the longer statutory limitation period.
Related Statutory Passenger Guides:

Public Statutory Information Disclaimer: AeroStatute provides general public educational information regarding Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, UK261, the Montreal Convention 1999, Canada APPR, and US DOT regulations. This tool does not provide formal legal advice or act as a law firm.

Global Statutory Compensation Tiers at a Glance

International air passenger compensation is governed by strict statutory instruments rather than airline goodwill. Depending on your route and operating carrier, the following statutory regimes generally apply:

Statute / Regime Applicable Flights Indicative Statutory Tier Typical Time Limit
EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 Departing any EU/EEA/Swiss airport (any airline), or arriving in EU/EEA on an EU carrier €250 (≤1,500 km)
€400 (1,500–3,500 km)
€600 (>3,500 km)		 1 to 5+ years (varies by EU Member State law, e.g., 3 yrs Germany, 5 yrs France/Spain)
UK261 (Retained EU Law) Departing any UK airport (any airline), or arriving in the UK on a UK/EU carrier £220 (≤1,500 km)
£350 (1,500–3,500 km)
£520 (>3,500 km)		 Up to 6 years in England, Wales & Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland)
Montreal Convention 1999 International flights between 135+ signatory countries (including US, UK, EU, SA, UAE, AU, CA) Up to 1,288 SDR (~€1,600 / ~$1,700 USD / ~£1,350) for baggage; up to 5,346 SDR for proven financial delay damages 7 days (damaged bag notice)
21 days (delayed bag notice)
2 years (court limitation)
Canada APPR & Brazil ANAC 400 Flights to, from, or within Canada (APPR) or Brazil (ANAC 400) $400–$1,000 CAD (Canada APPR)
Material assistance + statutory remedies (Brazil)		 1 year (Canada CTA filing)
2–5 years (Brazil)

Public Statutory Guides & Jurisdiction Rules

Browse our library of statutory passenger guides covering specific routes, connecting flight rules, extraordinary circumstances case law, and country-by-country limitation periods:

EU261 Flight Delay Compensation Rules: €250, €400 & €600 TiersHow Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 calculates statutory compensation of €250, €400, or €600 per passenger when a fligh... UK261 Statutory Compensation (£220–£520) & 6-Year Limitation PeriodPublic guide to UK261 retained air passenger rights for flights departing UK airports or operated by UK carriers (B... Montreal Convention Checked Baggage Compensation (Up to 1,288 SDR / ~$1,700)Understanding Articles 17, 22, and 31 of the Montreal Convention 1999 for delayed, lost, or damaged checked luggage... Johannesburg & Cape Town to UK/Europe Flight Delay Rules (€600 / £520)How South African and international passengers flying between OR Tambo (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT) and London, Frankfu... Missed Connecting Flights on a Single Booking Reference (PNR)Why even a 40-minute delay on your first flight can trigger €600 / £520 compensation if you miss a connecting fligh... Why Routine Aircraft Technical Problems Are Eligible for EU261 / UK261 PayoutsAirlines frequently reject claims by blaming 'unexpected technical defects.' Under binding Court of Justice precede... When Do Strikes Qualify for €250–€600 Flight Compensation?Understanding the difference between internal airline pilot/cabin crew strikes (eligible under Krüsemann C-195/17 &... How Long Do You Have to Claim Flight Delay Compensation in Each Country?Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 leaves limitation periods to national law (More v KLM C-139/11). Compare statutory dead... British Airways Delay, Missed Connection & Cancellation Statutory RightsHow UK261 and EC 261/2004 apply to British Airways short-haul and long-haul flights through London Heathrow (LHR) a... Lufthansa Delay, Cancellation & Missed Connection Rights under EC 261/2004Statutory rules for Lufthansa passengers delayed 3+ hours or missing connections at Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC)... KLM (Amsterdam Schiphol) & Air France (Paris CDG) EU261 Compensation RulesHow EC 261/2004 applies to KLM and Air France long-haul and connecting flights through Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and... When Non-EU Airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Turkish, SAA, Delta) Must Pay €600 / £520Many passengers don't realize that non-EU/non-UK airlines are strictly bound by EC 261/2004 and UK261 whenever the ... Low-Cost Carrier Statutory Rights: Doesn't Matter If Your Ticket Cost €19!Under EC 261/2004 and UK261, statutory compensation (€250–€400 / £220–£350) is fixed by law and does not depend on ... US Domestic & Transatlantic Passenger Rights: US DOT Rules vs EC 261/2004 & Montreal ConventionHow American and international travellers can claim mandatory US DOT automatic cash refunds, Montreal Convention in... Canada APPR Statutory Compensation ($400 to $1,000 CAD) & 1-Year Claim WindowPublic guide to Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (SOR/2019-150) for flights to, from, and within Canad... Cancelled Flight Compensation Matrix (7–14 Days vs Under 7 Days Notice)When a cancelled flight triggers €250–€600 / £220–£520 compensation in addition to a full ticket refund or reroutin... Involuntary Cabin Class Downgrade Statutory Reimbursement (30%, 50% or 75%)What happens if an airline downgrades you from First, Business, or Premium Economy to a lower cabin class—and why '... Delayed Checked Luggage Rules under the Montreal Convention (Article 17 & 31)Step-by-step statutory rules when your suitcase doesn't arrive on the carousel: filing a PIR at the airport, what r... How to Claim for a Broken or Damaged Suitcase Within the 7-Day Statutory WindowWhy airlines reject damaged luggage claims after 7 days, and how Article 17(2) and Article 31(2) of the Montreal Co... Bumped From an Overbooked Flight? Your Immediate Statutory Cash RightsWhy you should never accept a small airline voucher before checking your statutory Denied Boarding rights (€250–€60... Fluggastrechte bei Flugverspätung ab 3 Stunden & Annullierung (EG 261/2004)Öffentlicher Leitfaden zur EU-Fluggastrechteverordnung (EG) Nr. 261/2004: Wann Ihnen 250 €, 400 € oder 600 € pro Pe... Vos Droits en Cas de Vol Retardé de 3h+, Annulé ou Correspondance Manquée (CE 261/2004)Guide public sur le Règlement européen (CE) n° 261/2004 et la Convention de Montréal : barème de 250 €, 400 € et 60... Derechos del Pasajero Aéreo: Retrasos de 3+ Horas, Cancelaciones y Equipaje (CE 261/2004)Guía pública sobre el Reglamento (CE) 261/2004 y el Convenio de Montreal: cómo reclamar entre 250 € y 600 € por pas... Hoe Suid-Afrikaners tot €600 / £520 (~R12,000) vir Vertraagde Internasionale Vlugte Kan EisOpenbare statutêre gids vir reisigers vanaf Johannesburg (JNB) en Kaapstad (CPT) na Londen, Frankfurt, Amsterdam en...