Limitation periods by country
The window for claiming compensation is set by the law of the carrier's country of registration — and it varies sixfold: from one year in Poland and Belgium to six years in Ireland and Cyprus. Getting this wrong costs you the entire payout.
Updated 23 September 2026 · FlightFund editorial team
- The period follows the airline's country of registration, not your departure country or nationality.
- The spread is wide: Poland and Belgium 1 year; Ireland, the UK and Cyprus 6 years.
- In Germany the deadline falls on 31 December of the third year, not on the flight date.
- Flights from six years ago are still claimable against Irish carriers.
Table by country
Periods apply to claims under Regulation 261/2004 and are based on the general civil law of each country. In disputed cases the final period is determined by a court, so do not leave it to the last month.
How to work out the period for your flight
Check which airline actually operated the flight — on a codeshare this may not be the carrier you bought the ticket from; what counts is the operator. Then find its country of registration, shown on every airline page in our directory. The period runs from the flight date. If it is close to expiry, file immediately: sending a claim does not itself suspend the clock, but it puts your position on record.
Countries outside EU261
Russia
Domestic Russian flights are governed by Article 120 of the Russian Air Code: 25% of the minimum wage per hour of delay, capped at 50% of the ticket price. The limitation period is 3 years.
Türkiye
Turkey is outside the EU but has applied the national SHY-PASSENGER regulation since 2011, largely modelled on EU261. Complaints go to the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM). The limitation period is 2 years.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE does not apply EU261. Passenger rights are governed by GCAA rules and the contract of carriage. EU compensation is possible only if the flight departed from an EU airport.
Qatar
Qatar does not apply EU261. EU compensation is available only for flights departing from an EU airport. Otherwise the Montreal Convention applies, covering proven damages but not fixed compensation.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is outside the EU. Passenger rights follow national carriage rules. EU compensation applies only to departures from EU airports.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is outside the EU. EU compensation applies only to departures from EU airports.
Israel
Israel has its own Aviation Services Law (2012) with amounts comparable to the European ones. EU261 applies to departures from EU airports.
Serbia
Serbia is outside the EU but has adopted a national regulation harmonised with EU261 under the ECAA agreement. Amounts and delay thresholds match the European ones.
Belarus
Belarus does not apply EU261. EU compensation applies only to departures from EU airports.
The fee is deducted only from the compensation recovered. No payout — no fee.