Claiming flight compensation in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Which rules apply to your flight

The departure airport decides most cases:

The IAA gives the example that an Aer Lingus New York–Dublin flight falls under it, but the same route on American Airlines does not, because only EU-licensed airlines are covered on flights into the EU.

Republic of Ireland

Start with the airline. Aer Lingus has a dedicated flight disruption compensation form; Ryanair has an EU261 form in its help centre, and each adult passenger claims separately. Our complaint letter template works for any airline. Keep the reference number and every reply.

Complaining to the Irish Aviation Authority

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) used to be Ireland’s enforcement body. In April 2023 it merged with the regulatory side of the Irish Aviation Authority, and the merged regulator kept the IAA name. Today the IAA describes itself as “the National Enforcement Body for EC 261/2004”.

• Who it covers: flights departing Irish airports, and flights into Ireland from outside the EU/EEA operated by an EU-licensed airline.
• Before you complain: raise the complaint with the airline first. The IAA page does not state a waiting period; Your Europe says you can go to the national authority if the airline has not replied within 2 months.
• How: register on the IAA’s online customer platform (MySRS) and complete the online complaint form, linked from the IAA air passenger rights page.

The IAA page does not say whether it can order an airline to pay an individual passenger. Treat the complaint as a way to put regulatory pressure on the airline; if it still refuses, the courts decide.

The Irish small claims procedure

The District Court small claims procedure lets consumers resolve certain disputes without a solicitor. According to the Courts Service of Ireland:

• Limit: €2,000 or less. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission notes that the government has committed to raising the limit, but €2,000 was the figure on the courts’ own pages on 10 November 2026.
• Fee: €25, which cannot be reclaimed as part of the claim.
• Who: both you and the business you claim against must be living or based in Ireland. If either party is in another EU country (excluding Denmark), use the European Small Claims Procedure. The procedure does not apply to the UK, including Northern Ireland.
• What: claims for services not carried out as agreed by a business, among others. You cannot claim for your time, emotional distress or the costs of making the claim.
• Time limit: within six years of the incident.
• How: online through the Courts Service’s small claims portal or at your local District Court office. The Small Claims Registrar contacts both sides and tries to settle the claim; if that fails, it goes to a District Court hearing.

A family of four on a long-haul flight (4 × €600 = €2,400) would exceed the limit as a single claim; in that case get advice on whether each passenger should claim separately or whether another court route is needed.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so UK261 applies to flights departing its airports and to flights arriving there on UK or EU airlines. The amounts are £220, £350 and £520. Two things are different from the rest of the UK: the complaints body and the court.

The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

The CAA says complaints about flights in or out of Northern Ireland go to the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, not to the CAA’s complaints team. nidirect advises that if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint to the airline, you can contact the Consumer Council. It publishes a template letter for flight delays. Keep receipts for expenses and evidence of all contact with the airline.

If the airline is a member of an ADR scheme (for example easyJet or Ryanair with AviationADR, British Airways with CEDR), that scheme is also open to you. See ADR schemes.

The Northern Ireland small claims court

The limit for small claims in Northern Ireland rose from £3,000 to £5,000 on 3 October 2022 (Department of Justice). Claims are decided informally by the County Court, usually without a solicitor or barrister. You can apply through Small Claims Online – except if you are claiming a fee exemption – or on paper to the Civil Processing Centre at Laganside Courts. If the claim is disputed, it moves to the court office named in your application.

If you win, the respondent is ordered to pay the award, your application fee and any other costs awarded; if you lose, you do not get the fee back. The court only decides who is liable – it does not pay the award itself – and unpaid judgments are enforced through the Enforcement of Judgments Office. Before you start, send a final letter before action.

The European Small Claims Procedure no longer applies to new cases lodged in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2020, including those involving the Republic of Ireland. You can still use the Northern Ireland procedure against a respondent elsewhere in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Commission for Aviation Regulation still exist?

Not as a separate body. In 2023 the Commission for Aviation Regulation merged into the Irish Aviation Authority, which kept the IAA name. The IAA now describes itself as the national enforcement body for EC 261/2004, and the old flightrights.ie address redirects to iaa.ie.

My flight was Dublin to Belfast. Which rules apply?

A flight departing Dublin is covered by EU261 (the departure airport is in the EU), and the IAA is the enforcement body. A flight from Belfast to Dublin departs the UK, so UK261 applies, and complaints go to the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

Can I sue Ryanair or Aer Lingus in the Irish small claims court?

Both are based in Ireland. The procedure is for consumers and businesses where both parties are living or based in Ireland, and it covers services not provided as agreed. If you live in another EU country (not Denmark), the courts say you should use the European Small Claims Procedure. Check the courts.ie guidance before you apply.

Can I use the European Small Claims Procedure from Northern Ireland?

No. It no longer applies to new cases lodged in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2020. You can still use the Northern Ireland small claims procedure against a respondent elsewhere in the UK.

How long do I have?

For UK261 claims in Northern Ireland, 6 years. The Irish courts say a small claim must be made within six years from the date of the incident. See our time limits guide.

Sources

1. Air passenger rights (national enforcement body for EC 261/2004) – Irish Aviation Authority
2. CAR merges with Irish Aviation Authority – Irish Aviation Authority
3. Air passenger rights – claim your rights – Your Europe (European Union)
4. About small claims – Courts Service of Ireland
5. Small claims – Courts Service of Ireland
6. What is the small claims procedure? – Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
7. Delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights – nidirect
8. Overview of the small claims process – nidirect
9. Small claims fees – Department of Justice Northern Ireland
10. Long increases small claims court limit – Department of Justice Northern Ireland
11. How the CAA can help (Northern Ireland complaints) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
12. Template letter: flight delay – The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

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