Flight Delayed or Cancelled in Canada? Your Rights Under the APPR
Canada has its own air passenger rules, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR, SOR/2019-150). They apply to flights to, from, and within Canada, including connecting flights, and to Canadian and foreign airlines alike. Here is how they work, in plain language.
Is the APPR changing in 2026?
Not yet. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) published proposed amendments in the Canada Gazette in December 2024, and its 2026–27 plan says it is still working on them. As of October 2026, the official regulations are the 2019 rules as last amended on September 8, 2022 (the refund amendments). Until new rules are finalized and in force, the current rules apply. Check the CTA website for updates.
The three delay categories
What the airline must do depends on why the flight was delayed or cancelled:
- Within the airline's control (for example crew scheduling or many maintenance issues found outside scheduled checks)
- Within the airline's control but required for safety (for example a mechanical problem that reduces passenger safety)
- Outside the airline's control (for example weather, air traffic control instructions, security threats, or airport operational issues)
The airline must tell you the reason for the disruption. Write down exactly what you are told.
Care, rebooking, and refunds
- Food, drink, and a hotel: for disruptions within the airline's control (including safety-related ones), when you are informed less than 12 hours before departure, the rules require food and drink after a 2-hour wait, and a hotel and transportation when an overnight stay is needed.
- Rebooking or refund: for controllable delays of 3 hours or more, and for cancellations, the airline must offer rebooking or a refund if the new arrangement no longer serves your trip.
- Outside the airline's control: since September 8, 2022, if the airline cannot confirm you on a flight leaving within 48 hours of your original departure, you can choose a refund or rebooking. Refunds are due within 30 days, to the original form of payment.
Compensation amounts the APPR sets
When a delay or cancellation is within the airline's control and not required for safety, and you were told less than 14 days before departure, the APPR sets minimum compensation based on how late you arrive:
| Arrival delay | Large carrier | Small carrier |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to under 6 hours | $400 | $125 |
| 6 to under 9 hours | $700 | $250 |
| 9 hours or more | $1,000 | $500 |
A large carrier carried 2 million or more passengers worldwide in each of the two previous calendar years; major airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet fall in this group. A small carrier is any other airline. Requests for compensation must be made to the airline within one year, and the airline has 30 days to respond. Whether a specific flight qualifies depends on the cause and the details.
Main airports and airlines
Airports include Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), Calgary (YYC), Ottawa (YOW), Edmonton (YEG), Halifax (YHZ), Winnipeg (YWG), and Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ). Airlines include Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Flair Airlines, and Air Transat.
Where to complain
First, contact the airline in writing and give it 30 days to reply. If it does not resolve the issue, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency: protection-passager-passenger.otc-cta.gc.ca (complaint form: formulaires-forms.otc-cta.gc.ca). You need proof of your written request to the airline, your booking, and your itinerary.
FAQ
Does the APPR apply to US airlines flying to Canada? Yes. The APPR covers flights to, from, and within Canada, whatever the airline. US Department of Transportation rules may also apply on cross-border trips.
Was my weather delay covered? Weather is normally outside the airline's control. Compensation does not apply, but the 48-hour rebooking-or-refund rule still can.
The airline said "safety." Can I ask for details? Yes. Ask the airline to explain the cause in writing. Only issues required for safety, as the APPR defines them, fall in that category; scheduled maintenance does not.
Related guides
- Flight cancelled? What to ask for
- Missed a connection because of a delay?
- Flight delay rules around the world
Create your letter
Delay Draft writes a clear, professional letter that you send to the airline yourself. It lists your flight, the times, the cause you were given, and the rule you are relying on. We are not a law firm, we do not give legal advice, and we do not file claims for you. Questions: claims@delaydraft.com.