Canada APPR Flight Rights:
Compensation Up to $2,400 CAD

Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) provide some of North America's strongest protections for airline passengers. If your flight in Canada was delayed, cancelled, or you were denied boarding, you may be entitled to compensation ranging from $125 to $2,400 CAD.

What is APPR?

The Air Passenger Protection Regulations came into effect on June 15, 2019, establishing mandatory protections for airline passengers in Canada. APPR applies to flights operated by Canadian airlines and foreign airlines operating from Canadian airports. It's administered by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

APPR covers delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and lost baggage. One important feature: airlines must provide meals, accommodations, and communication during delays — not just compensation after the fact.

Large vs. Small Carrier Compensation

APPR distinguishes between large carriers (annual revenue over $25M CAD — Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat) and small carriers (Flair, Porter, some regionals).

Delay Compensation

Denied Boarding Compensation

Unlike EU261, APPR compensation does not scale with flight distance — it's determined by delay duration and carrier size.

Airline Obligations During Delays

Beyond compensation, airlines must provide:

• Meals and refreshments — reasonable food and non-alcoholic drinks for delays of 2+ hours (domestic) or 3+ hours (international)
• Hotel accommodation — if delays extend overnight or rebooking requires an overnight stay
• Ground transportation — between airport, hotel, and alternative departure airports
• Communication — access to phone/email to notify family or employers

These obligations exist independently of compensation. Even if an airline is exempt from compensation due to extraordinary circumstances, they still must provide meals, hotels, and transport.

How APPR Compares to EU261 and US DOT

vs. EU261: APPR compensation is somewhat lower (max $1,000 CAD vs. €600). EU261 has stricter "extraordinary circumstances" standards. But APPR's service obligations are equally strong.

vs. US DOT: APPR provides far stronger protections. The US DOT rules cover refunds and rebooking but provide no automatic cash compensation for delays. The US has no equivalent to the CTA's complaint process.

Claiming from Air Canada & WestJet

Air Canada: Use their online compensation portal. Include booking confirmation, flight details, proof of arrival time. Response time: 6-8 weeks. Generally acknowledges valid claims.

WestJet: Contact customer care via phone or email. Response time: 4-6 weeks. Cooperative but may dispute extraordinary circumstances.

Other carriers: Air Transat, Flair, Porter, and foreign airlines operating from Canada must all comply with APPR. Use the same claim process.

The CTA Complaint Process

If the airline denies your claim or doesn't respond:

1. Visit the CTA portal (otc-cta.gc.ca)
2. Select "File a complaint" → "Air passenger"
3. Provide flight details, booking info, and airline's response
4. Upload supporting documents
5. CTA reviews and issues a binding decision (8-16 weeks)

Recent Updates

• Clearer "extraordinary circumstances" standards: Crew scheduling failures, mechanical issues, and many weather situations now require airlines to pay compensation
• Technology outages: Computer system failures are increasingly deemed airline responsibility
• Better enforcement: CTA has increased investigations and penalties for non-compliance

For the broader North American picture, see our Americas air travel rights guide. If your airline denies your claim, our guide on fighting airline refund denials covers escalation tactics. And check your credit card travel protection for additional coverage.