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How to claim
- Write to the airline with your booking reference and the amount. Under Canadian rules, claim within one year; the airline must pay or explain why not within 30 days.
- If it refuses, you can complain to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Canadian rules) or the national enforcement body of the EU country you flew from.
- Or let a claims service do it. They take a share only if they win.
We earn a commission if you use these services, at no extra cost to you. Claiming yourself is free.
A guide, not legal advice. The airline decides first, and the regulator settles disputes.
Flight delay compensation in Canada (APPR)
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations cover flights to, from and within Canada, including connections. You're owed compensation when the delay or cancellation was within the airline's control and not required for safety, and the airline told you 14 days or less before departure. The amount depends on how late you reach your final destination:
| Arrival delay | Large airline | Small airline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 6 hours | $400 | $125 |
| 6 to 9 hours | $700 | $250 |
| 9 hours or more | $1,000 | $500 |
A large airline is one that carried 2 million passengers or more in each of the past two years. If your cancelled ticket is refunded instead, the minimum is $400 (large) or $125 (small). If you're bumped for reasons within the airline's control, you're owed $900, $1,800 or $2,400 depending on how late you arrive.
Changes to these rules have been proposed, but as of October 2026 the amounts above still apply.
EU 261 and UK compensation for flights from Canada
EU rules cover flights leaving the EU on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline. So Toronto to Paris on Air France is covered both ways, but on Air Canada only the flight home from Paris is. UK rules work the same way for the UK, with UK and EU airlines. All flights between Canada and Europe are over 3,500 km:
| Arrival delay, long-haul | EU | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 hours | €300 | £260 |
| 4 hours or more | €600 | £520 |
No compensation is due for extraordinary circumstances the airline couldn't avoid, like bad weather or air traffic control decisions. Most technical faults and airline staff strikes don't count as extraordinary. The EU is negotiating changes to these rules, but they haven't been adopted.
Not owed compensation? You may still be owed help
Even when the cause is outside the airline's control, Canadian rules say you must be rebooked, or refunded if the airline can't get you on a flight within 48 hours. Refunds go back to your original payment method within 30 days. For long waits caused by the airline, it must also provide food and drink and a way to communicate.
Travel insurance can cover costs the airline doesn't, like hotel nights or missed bookings. See trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
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Common questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight in Canada?
On a large airline, $400 for arriving 3 to 6 hours late, $700 for 6 to 9 hours and $1,000 for 9 hours or more, when the delay was within the airline's control and not required for safety. Small airlines pay $125, $250 or $500.
Does Air Canada have to compensate me for a delay?
Yes, if the delay was within Air Canada's control and not required for safety, you were told 14 days or less before departure, and you arrived at least 3 hours late. Air Canada is a large airline, so the amounts are $400, $700 or $1,000.
How long do I have to claim flight delay compensation in Canada?
You must send your claim to the airline within one year of the delay or cancellation. The airline then has 30 days to pay or explain why it won't.
Can I claim EU compensation on a flight from Canada?
Only if you flew on an EU airline, like Air France, KLM or Lufthansa. On the way back from Europe, EU rules cover any airline. You can't be compensated twice for the same disruption.
Is weather a valid reason to refuse compensation?
Yes. Under both Canadian and EU rules, bad weather is outside the airline's control, so no compensation is due. You're still entitled to be rebooked, or refunded in some cases.
Sources
Checked October 16, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the airline or regulator before you rely on a result.
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, s. 19: compensation for delay or cancellation (current to 2026-09-21)
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, s. 12: situations within the carrier's control
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, s. 11: within control but required for safety
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, s. 20: denial of boarding
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, s. 1: large and small carrier definitions
- Canadian Transportation Agency: refunds for disruptions outside the airline's control
- Your Europe (European Union): Air passenger rights
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: Delays
- Qatar Airways: UK air passenger rights (which flights UK rules cover)
- European Parliament Legislative Train: revision of regulation 261/2004 (not yet adopted)