Am I owed flight compensation in Canada? The five questions, as a flowchart

Updated · Checked against the regulations as current to September 3, 2026 · By LandedLate

You're owed compensation in Canada when a flight to, from or within Canada gets you to your final destination 3 or more hours late, you were told 14 days or less before departure, and the cause was within the airline's control and not required for safety. A large airline then owes $400, $700 or $1,000 per passenger; a small one $125, $250 or $500. If you were bumped from a full flight for a reason within the airline's control, any airline owes $900, $1,800 or $2,400. Rules as of September 27, 2026.

The flowchart

1Flight to, from orwithin Canada?NoCanada's rulesdon't applyYes2Bumped from afull flight?YesOwed $900–$2,400 if withinits controlNo33+ hours late at yourdestination, or tooka refund instead?NoNo compensation.Meals after 2 h,not for weatherYes4Told 14 days or lessbefore departure?NoNo compensation.New flight orrefundYes5What caused it?The airline's own controlOwed $400–$1,000 ($125–$500 small airline);$400 minimum if you took a refundRequired for safety, e.g. a mechanical faultNo compensation, but meals and a hotel.Often worth challengingWeather, ATC, security, a strikeNo compensation or meals. A new flight,or a refund if none within 48 hours
Under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (SOR/2019-150) as in force on September 27, 2026. Free to reuse with credit to LandedLate (CC BY 4.0).

The same five questions, in words

  1. Was the flight to, from or within Canada? Including connecting flights. If not, Canada's rules don't apply, though another country's might.
  2. Were you bumped from a full flight? If the reason was within the airline's control, you're owed $900 if you arrived less than 6 hours late, $1,800 for 6 to 9 hours and $2,400 for 9 hours or more, within 48 hours (section 20). Otherwise, carry on.
  3. Did you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late, or take a refund instead? If you took a refund instead of a new flight for a cause within the airline's control, you're owed at least $400 from a large airline or $125 from a small one, however late you were (section 19(2)). Otherwise, under 3 hours late means no compensation, though you may be owed food and drink after a 2-hour wait if the cause was within the airline's control, including safety, and you were told less than 12 hours ahead (section 14). More on 2-hour delays
  4. Were you told 14 days or less before departure? If you were told earlier, no compensation, but you're still owed a new flight or a refund (section 12).
  5. What caused it?
    • Outside the airline's control (weather that made flying unsafe, air traffic control, security, a strike): no compensation and no meals or hotel. You get a new flight within 48 hours, and a refund only if the airline can't manage that (sections 10 and 18). More on weather
    • Required for safety (for example, a mechanical fault): no compensation, but meals, a hotel and a new flight or refund (sections 11, 14 and 17). Often worth challenging. Crew shortages usually don't qualify.
    • Within the airline's own control: $400, $700 or $1,000 on a large airline; $125, $250 or $500 on a small one (section 19). Every amount

Then claim from the airline that operated the flight, within one year.

Answer the questions for your flight

Questions

Does the delay count from departure or arrival?

Arrival. What matters is how late you reached the final destination on your original ticket (section 19(1)), including connections and any replacement flight.

What counts as the airline's own control?

Anything the airline could manage: crew and staffing, scheduling, moving your plane to another flight, and maintenance problems it caused. Outside its control are events listed in section 10, such as weather that makes flying unsafe, air traffic control instructions, security threats, medical emergencies, bird strikes and labour disruptions.

What does "required for safety" mean?

Within the airline's control but required by law to reduce a risk to passenger safety, including a pilot's safety decision. It excludes scheduled maintenance (section 1). No compensation is owed in this category, but meals, a hotel and rebooking are, and the label can be challenged if the airline caused the problem or had no reasonable plan to avoid it (WestJet v. Lareau, 2025 FCA 149).

How long do I have to claim?

One year from the delay or cancellation (section 19(3)). The airline then has 30 days to pay or explain why not (section 19(4)).

Does this apply to foreign airlines?

Yes, on flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights. The airline that operated the flight is responsible (section 2(1)). Whether it owes large- or small-airline amounts depends on how many passengers it carries worldwide.

Sources

  1. Air Passenger Protection Regulations, SOR/2019-150, sections 1, 2, 10 to 14, and 17 to 21 (Justice Laws)
  2. Canadian Transportation Agency: Flight delays and cancellations, a guide (PDF)
  3. WestJet v. Lareau, 2025 FCA 149 (CanLII)

General information, not legal advice.