Your Rights

APPR Canada

 

Your Guide to Air Passenger Rights in Canada

 

When your flight to, from, or within Canada is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) may entitle you to compensation and care. Enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), these rules set clear standards for airlines and ensure passengers are treated fairly.

This guide breaks down the key rights, compensation amounts, and claim procedures to help you understand when and how you can claim under the APPR.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF APPR CANADA

  • The APPR is a federal regulation safeguarding air traveler rights in Canada.
  • You can receive compensation for a flight delay, cancellation, and denied boarding.
  • Depending on delay length and airline size, passengers can claim up to CA $2,400 (€1,640).
  • In case of long waiting times, you’re entitled to additional care—meals, accommodation, and communication must be provided during long delays or tarmac waits.
Plans ruined by flight disruption? You could be entitled to compensation.
Check your eligibility

 

What are Air Passenger Protection Regulations?

The Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) are national rules, introduced in 2019, under the Canada Transportation Act, enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). They define airlines’ minimum obligations when flights are delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, and when baggage is lost or damaged.

These obligations include clear communication, rebooking or refunds, and fixed compensation amounts.

The APPR applies to all flights to, from, or within Canada, regardless of the airline’s nationality.

Map of the eligible flights for compensation under Canada's APPR

 

What are your APPR rights?

The APPR outlines your main rights in four key areas: flight delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and tarmac delays.

 

Flight Delays

A flight delay occurs when your departure or arrival time is later than scheduled.

Under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), passengers are eligible for monetary compensation if the arrival delay is 3+ hours and the disruption was within the airline’s control—for example, due to crew scheduling, aircraft maintenance, or operational issues.

Regardless of the cause, airlines must also provide assistance and care:

  • Inform passengers of the reason and give updates every 30 minutes;
  • Offer food and drinks after 2 hours;
  • Provide accommodation and ground transport for overnight delays;
  • Rebook you on the next available flight or issue a refund if travel no longer meets your needs.

Want to learn more about your rights in case of a delayed flight and how to get compensation? Take a look at our guide on flight delay compensation. 

 

Flight Cancellations

You may be eligible for flight cancellation compensation if your flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure and the disruption was preventable by the airline, such as operational or crew issues.

The compensation amount depends on the airline’s size and the delay in reaching your final destination. In addition, airlines must:

  • Inform passengers immediately of the reason for the cancellation;
  • Offer rebooking on the next available flight or provide a full refund if you no longer wish to travel;
  • Provide care, including meals and accommodation, when required.

 

Denied Boarding (Bumping)

If you are denied boarding involuntarily, you’re entitled to both rebooking and compensation:

  • Rebooking or refund, plus
  • Compensation depending on your delay upon arrival of the alternative flight

 

Tarmac Delays

A tarmac delay happens when passengers are kept on board an aircraft that has landed or is waiting to take off but remains on the runway without access to the terminal. In these cases, airlines must ensure:

  • Access to toilets, food, and drinks after 2 hours, and ventilation;
  • Communication access when possible;
  • The right to disembark after 3 hours, unless unsafe to do so.

 

How much compensation can you claim under Air Passenger Protection Regulations?

The amount of compensation under the Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) depends on 2 factors:

  1. The type of disruption (delay, cancellation, or denied boarding); and
  2. The size of the carrier: large airlines (handling 2 million+ passengers/year) owe higher amounts than smaller ones.

These fixed sums are designed to reflect the level of inconvenience caused to passengers.

 

Compensation for Delays and Cancellations

If the disruption was within the airline’s control, passengers are entitled to the following amounts based on the arrival delay: 

   Length of Delay   Large carrier Small carrier
3–6 hours CA $400 (€275) CA $125 (€85)
6–9 hours CA $700 (€480) CA $250 (€170)
≥ 9 hours CA $1,000 (€685) CA $500 (€340)

 

 

Compensation for Denied Boarding

If you were involuntarily denied boarding (bumped), compensation is based on how late you arrive at your destination compared to your original itinerary:

  • Less than 6 hours late: You are entitled to CA $900 (€615).
  • Between 6 and 9 hours late: You are entitled to CA $1,800 (€1,230).
  • 9 hours or more late: You are entitled to CA $2,400 (€1,640).

Compensation must be paid within 30 days of approval or immediately at the airport if feasible.

 

What flights are eligible for compensation under Air Passenger Protection Regulations?

The APPR applies to flights to, from, or within Canada, including connecting legs, regardless of airline nationality. Here’s how it works in practice:

Flight Type Example Route APPR Applies?
Domestic flights within Canada Toronto → Vancouver Yes
International flight departing from Canada Montreal → London Yes
International flight arriving in Canada Paris → Toronto Yes
Connecting flight with a stop in Canada London → Toronto → New York Yes
Flight with no Canadian touchpoint Lisbon → Madrid No

 

Disclaimer: Eligibility doesn’t depend on nationality, age, or ticket class—only that you have a confirmed reservation, checked in on time, and the issue was within the airline’s control.

 

What Flights Aren’t Eligible for Compensation Under Air Passenger Protection Regulations?

The law recognizes that certain events are beyond the airline’s control, meaning they could not have been prevented even with all reasonable measures. 

Here are the most common examples of extraordinary circumstances under Air Passenger Protection Regulations:

  1. Severe weather or natural disasters
  2. Security threats or political unrest
  3. Medical emergencies
  4. Air-traffic control restrictions
  5. Wildlife strikes or airport-operation issues

This means that extraordinary circumstances like bad weather or air-traffic delays do not automatically exclude compensation; the airline must demonstrate it acted responsibly to minimize the impact.

 

Other rights under Air Passenger Protection Regulations

Besides financial compensation, passengers are also entitled to basic assistance when their travel plans are disrupted. 

This includes measures to make waiting more comfortable and to ensure passengers stay informed throughout the delay. Under Section 8(1) of the APPR, airlines must provide:

  • Food and drink vouchers, provided after a delay of more than two hours or in the event of a cancellation, even when the disruption is outside the airline’s control;
  • Access to communication;
  • Accommodation + transport for overnight delays;
  • Updates every 30 minutes.

During tarmac delays, they must allow disembarkation after 3 hours unless unsafe.

 

Additional Rights for Passengers with Restricted Mobility or Special Needs

Under the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR), airlines and airports must:

  • Assist passengers with boarding/disembarking;
  • Communicate updates accessibly;
  • Provide priority seating and handle mobility aids safely.

 

How to claim under Canada APPR?

If your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, you can file a claim for compensation directly with the airline or SkyRefund’s legal team. 

 

Claiming Through the Airline

You can submit your claim online or through the airline’s customer service by providing your flight details, booking reference, and the reason for the disruption.

The airline must reply within 30 days, paying, refusing (with justification), or requesting more data.

If you don’t receive a response or disagree with the outcome, you can escalate the complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

 

Claiming Through SkyRefund

For a faster, stress-free process, SkyRefund handles the entire claim on your behalf:

  1. Check your flight with our free compensation calculator below.
  2. Submit your claim form in minutes and upload your ticket or boarding pass.
  3. Our legal experts handle the airline and, if needed, regulatory proceedings.
  4. Receive your payment. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis; you pay nothing unless we win.

 

Find out your expected compensation

Passenger icon

1 Passenger Passengers

World planet
Flight plan

€250

1500 km
or less

€600

3500 km
or more

€400

1500 - 3500 km

Key points about flight delay compensation

There is no compensation for delayed flights in the United States. However, under DOT regulations you may be entitled to an automatic refund of the ticket cost in cases of significant delays.

 

How long do you have to submit a claim for compensation under Canadian APPR?

You must file a compensation claim within 1 year of the disrupted flight. The airline must respond within 30 days, either paying compensation or giving a written explanation.

If unsatisfied, passengers can escalate the complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which enforces compliance and may fine non-compliant airlines.

Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and correspondence; they’re essential evidence for your case.

 

Does the airline need to notify you about the disruption under Canadian law?

Yes. Airlines must display the following bilingual message at every gate and check-in counter:

English version:
“If you are denied boarding, your flight is cancelled or delayed for at least two hours, or your baggage is lost or damaged, you may be entitled to certain standards of treatment and compensation under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. For more information about your passenger rights, please contact your air carrier or visit the Canadian Transportation Agency’s website.”

French version:
“Si l’embarquement vous est refusé, ou si votre vol est annulé ou retardé d’au moins deux heures, ou si vos bagages sont perdus ou endommagés, vous pourriez avoir droit, au titre du Règlement sur la protection des passagers aériens, à certains avantages au titre des normes de traitement applicables et à une indemnité. Pour de plus amples renseignements sur vos droits, veuillez communiquer avec votre transporteur aérien ou visiter le site Web de l’Office des transports du Canada.”

Airlines must keep passengers informed every 30 minutes and explain causes in plain, non-technical language.

 

How can SkyRefund help?

With over 8 years of experience in aviation law, SkyRefund helps passengers secure the compensation they deserve quickly and without hassle. We partner with a global legal network to represent travelers effectively wherever the claim originates. Thanks to its no-win, no-fee policy and 98% success rate, passengers can trust SkyRefund to deliver fair results without risk or upfront cost.

Check your flight compensation now! It’s instant, secure, and completely free to start.