Your rights when a flight in Canada is delayed or cancelled
Sources checked 2026-09-28. General information, not legal advice.
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) apply to flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights, on any airline. What you get depends on why the flight was disrupted, the size of the airline and how late you arrived.
Step 1: find out why the flight was delayed
The airline must tell you the reason. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) groups disruptions into three categories, and each gives different rights:
- Within the airline's control (for example scheduled maintenance, choice of aircraft, staffing): assistance, rebooking or a refund, and compensation.
- Within the airline's control but required for safety: assistance and rebooking or a refund, but no compensation.
- Outside the airline's control (for example extreme weather, emergencies, security, labour or airport issues): rebooking or a refund only.
Step 2: food, drinks and a hotel (assistance)
For disruptions within the airline's control (including those required for safety), the airline must provide assistance if you were told less than 12 hours before your original departure time and you've waited at the airport for 2 hours or more after it.
- Food and drinks in reasonable quantities.
- Access to a means of communication, like Wi-Fi or a phone.
- A hotel or other accommodation, and transport to and from it, if you have to wait overnight.
- Keep every receipt: expenses can be included in your claim to the airline or a complaint to the CTA.
Step 3: compensation for your inconvenience
Compensation applies only when the cause was within the airline's control, you were told 14 days or less before departure, and you arrived at your final destination 3 hours or more late. From a large airline it's $400 for 3 to under 6 hours late, $700 for 6 to under 9 hours and $1,000 for 9 hours or more. From a small airline it's $125, $250 or $500. If your flight was cancelled and you chose a refund instead of travelling, it's $400 (large) or $125 (small).
The CTA lists Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge), WestJet, Sunwing, Air Transat, Flair and Porter as large Canadian airlines; all other Canadian airlines are small. Foreign airlines are sized by the passengers they carry worldwide.
Step 4: claim in writing within 1 year
- Send a written claim to the airline within 1 year of the delay or cancellation.
- The airline has 30 days to pay or explain why not.
- If you're not satisfied, or you get no reply within 30 days, you can complain to the Canadian Transportation Agency for free.
- Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, airline notifications and receipts.
Stuck on the tarmac?
During a tarmac delay the airline must provide working washrooms, ventilation and heating or cooling, food and drink, and a way to communicate where feasible. After 3 hours on the tarmac at a Canadian airport, the aircraft must generally return to the gate so you can get off (it can wait up to 45 more minutes if take-off is likely in that time).
Related
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight in Canada?
From a large airline, $400 to $1,000 depending on how late you arrived (3, 6 or 9+ hours); from a small airline, $125 to $500. Only if the cause was within the airline's control and not required for safety.
Does weather count?
No compensation for weather: it's outside the airline's control. You're still entitled to rebooking or a refund.
When does the airline have to give me food and a hotel?
For disruptions within the airline's control, if you were told less than 12 hours before departure and have waited 2 hours or more at the airport. A hotel is due if you have to wait overnight.
How long do I have to claim?
1 year from the delay or cancellation. The airline has 30 days to respond; after that you can complain to the CTA.