Flight delay or cancellation compensation - up to $1,000

Canadian Transportation Agency

When a flight is delayed or cancelled for a reason within the airline's control and not required for safety, and you arrive at your destination three or more hours late, the airline owes you a fixed cash amount under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. A large airline pays $400 for a delay of three to six hours, $700 for six to nine, and $1,000 beyond nine. Small airlines pay $125, $250 and $500 on the same bands.

The catch: Most disruptions do not qualify, and the airline decides the category. Weather, a safety defect and air traffic control are all outside the airline's control and pay nothing under this rule - a separate set of rebooking and refund obligations applies instead. The claim is not automatic and the airline will not volunteer it: you must claim in writing within one year of the disruption, after which the airline has 30 days to pay or to tell you why it thinks nothing is owed. Compensation may be offered as a voucher only if you are told the cash value and the voucher is worth more, and you may refuse it.

Who can get it

  • Compensation is owed only where arrival at the destination is three or more hours late and the cause was within the airline's control and not required for safety. must meet

When it is open

  • One year from disruption
    Per disruption
    A passenger must claim compensation in writing within one year of the flight disruption. The airline then has 30 days to pay or to explain why it believes compensation is not owed.

At a glance

Worth
$1,000
Effort
About 45 minutes
Time to money
A few weeks
How it arrives
Cheque
How often
Unknown
Proof needed
Self attest
Where
Canada
Last checked
15 August 2026