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Warsaw Convention (1929, as amended at The Hague 1955): liability limits and deadlines

The original air carriage regime. Its cargo limit was expressed in gold francs; MAP4 converted it to 17 SDR/kg for states that ratified MAP4.

Full name: Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to International Carriage by Air (Warsaw, 1929), as amended by The Hague Protocol (1955) and, where applicable, Montreal Additional Protocol No. 4 (1975)
Status: In force; superseded by MC99 between MC99 parties
Mode: Air

Carrier's liability limit

17 SDR per kilogram where Montreal Additional Protocol No. 4 (MAP4) applies. Under the original Warsaw text and The Hague Protocol, the limit is 250 Poincaré gold francs per kilogram (Art. 22(2)); conversion varies by country. The calculator shows the 17 SDR/kg MAP4 figure.

Calculate a Warsaw Convention limit

Notice, claim and time-bar deadlines

Notice of damage (Hague Protocol): Within 14 days from receipt of the cargo (Art. 26(2) as amended); 7 days under the unamended 1929 text.
Notice of delay (Hague Protocol): Within 21 days from the date the cargo was placed at the consignee's disposal; 14 days under the 1929 text.
Time bar (suit): 2 years from arrival at destination, the date the aircraft ought to have arrived, or the date carriage stopped (Art. 29).

Who it applies to

International carriage by air between states that are both party to the same Warsaw instrument but not both party to MC99. Since all 20 countries on this site are MC99 parties, Warsaw mainly matters for routes to non-MC99 states.

Of the 20 countries we cover, these are parties or apply it: Canada, United States, China, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Japan, India, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Türkiye (Turkey), South Africa.

Important notes

MAP4 party status for individual countries is marked 'to confirm' on our country pages: we could not retrieve ICAO's MAP4 list during this build.

FAQ

Does Warsaw still apply anywhere?

Yes, on routes where one country is party to a Warsaw instrument but not to MC99.

Primary sources

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General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Limits depend on the contract, the documents issued, declared values, national law and the facts of each case. Check the primary sources and consult a qualified professional before relying on any figure.