The clock nobody tells you about
How long you have to claim
Regulation 261 sets no deadline at all. Each country sets its own, and the range is enormous — one year in Poland, six in England. It is the single most decisive fact about an older claim, and almost no one publishes it plainly.
| Country | Time limit | Enforcement body | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6 years (England, Wales, NI) · 5 years (Scotland) | Civil Aviation Authority | UK261 |
| Spain | 5 years | AESA — Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea | EU261 |
| Germany | 3 years, running from the end of the calendar year of the flight | Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) | EU261 |
| France | 5 years | DGAC — Direction générale de l'Aviation civile | EU261 |
| Italy | 2 years (some sources cite 26 months) | ENAC — Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile | EU261 |
| Netherlands | 2 years | Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT) | EU261 |
| Ireland | 6 years | Commission for Aviation Regulation | EU261 |
| Poland | 1 year | Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC) | EU261 |
| Belgium | 1 year | SPF Mobilité / FOD Mobiliteit | EU261 |
| Portugal | 3 years | ANAC — Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil | EU261 |
| Austria | 3 years | Austro Control / bmk | EU261 |
| Greece | 5 years | Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority | EU261 |
Which limit applies depends on where the claim is brought, which is usually the country of departure or the airline’s home state. Where you have a choice, the longer period is worth having.