Flight delay compensation in Canada: the complete picture
Flights to, from and within Canada are covered by the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (SOR/2019-150). The amounts are fixed by law, the deadlines are short, and the airline — not you — carries the burden of proving why it shouldn’t pay.
The amounts
Compensation is per passenger, set by how late you arrived at your final destination:
| Arrival delay | Large carrier | Small carrier | Denied boarding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–6 hours | $400 | $125 | $900 (under 6h) |
| 6–9 hours | $700 | $250 | $1800 |
| 9+ hours | $1000 | $500 | $2400 |
“Large” covers Air Canada (including Rouge and Jazz), WestJet, Porter, Flair, Air Transat, Sunwing — and most scheduled international airlines. Took a refund instead of rebooking after a within-control cancellation? A flat $400 (large) / $125 (small) is owed on top of the refund. Denied boarding pays the same tiers on every carrier size, and must be paid automatically within 48 hours.
The three gates
- 1. Cause. The disruption must be within the airline’s control and not required for safety. Crew and staffing shortages are presumptively within control; scheduled maintenance is within control; weather incompatible with safe operation, air traffic control and security are not. The airline must state its category — and support it with evidence if challenged.
- 2. Notice. You were told of the disruption 14 days or less before departure.
- 3. Arrival. Lateness is measured when you arrived at the final destination on your ticket — not when you left.
How claiming actually works
- 1. Claim in writing with the airline — every carrier has a web form. You have 1 year.
- 2. The airline has 30 days to pay or give you its specific reason.
- 3. Denied? The reason can be tested against the flight’s own operating records — the aircraft’s inbound rotation, the weather archives, the actual times. Here’s what denials look like and how they fold.
- 4. Still refused? Two escalation lanes exist — small claims court or a CTA complaint. Never both at once.
Also owed, separately from compensation
- Food, drink and communication after a 2-hour wait, and a hotel if the delay runs overnight — for within-control and safety-required disruptions.
- Refunds within 30 days, to the original payment method, when you choose not to travel.
- Baggage: up to about $2,800 for lost or damaged bags under the Montreal Convention, plus refund of bag fees.
What was your flight actually worth? Flight number + date gets you the actual times, the aircraft’s inbound rotation, and the weather record — free, in seconds.
Check your flight — freeQuestions people ask
How much is a delayed flight worth in Canada?
On large carriers (Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Flair, Air Transat, Sunwing and most international airlines): $400 for arriving 3–6 hours late, $700 for 6–9 hours, $1,000 for 9+ hours. Small carriers pay $125/$250/$500. Denied boarding pays $900–$2,400. Amounts are per passenger.
What's the deadline to claim?
You must claim in writing with the airline within 1 year of the disruption. The airline must respond within 30 days with payment or the specific reason it says none is owed.
Does every delay qualify?
No. Compensation applies when the disruption was within the airline's control and not required for safety, and you were told 14 days or less before departure. Weather incompatible with safe operation, air traffic control, and similar causes are excluded — but the airline carries the burden of proving its category.
Is lateness measured at departure or arrival?
Arrival, at the final destination on your ticket. A 2-hour departure delay that lands 3+ hours late qualifies; a late departure that arrives under 3 hours late doesn't.
Can the airline pay me in vouchers?
Only with your written agreement, and only if the voucher is worth more than the cash and never expires. Money is the default (APPR s. 21).