Canada Flight Compensation (APPR): How Much Airlines Must Pay — and When They Try Not To

Introduction: Why Canada’s APPR Is More Complicated Than It Looks

Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) are often presented as a clear and passenger-friendly compensation system. On paper, the rules seem simple: if your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you are denied boarding, airlines must pay compensation.

In practice, APPR is one of the most disputed and aggressively resisted compensation regimes in the world.

Airlines operating in Canada routinely:

• reclassify disruptions to avoid compensation,

• invoke safety or “operational” justifications without evidence,

• delay responses beyond statutory deadlines,

• or reject claims based on selective interpretations of the regulations.

As a result, many passengers are legally entitled to compensation — but never receive it without escalation.

This article explains:

• how much compensation APPR actually provides,

• when airlines are legally required to pay,

• and why so many valid claims are denied unless handled professionally.

What Is APPR and Which Flights Are Covered?

APPR applies to:

• flights departing from Canada, and

• flights to Canada operated by Canadian carriers.

Coverage depends on carrier size, not ticket price or travel class:

• Large airlines (e.g. Air Canada, WestJet): higher compensation thresholds

• Small airlines: reduced amounts, but still binding obligations

APPR applies regardless of passenger nationality and includes both domestic and international flights within its scope.

However, coverage does not mean automatic compensation — and this is where most passengers are misled.

APPR Compensation Amounts: What the Law Says

Flight Delays and Cancellations (Airline-Controlled)

For large airlines, compensation is:

• CAD 400 — delay of 3–6 hours

• CAD 700 — delay of 6–9 hours

• CAD 1,000 — delay of 9+ hours

For small airlines, the amounts are lower:

• CAD 125 / 250 / 500 respectively.

These amounts apply only if the disruption is within the airline’s control and not required for safety.

That qualification is exactly where most disputes begin.

The Key APPR Loophole: “Required for Safety”

Under APPR, airlines do not owe compensation if the delay or cancellation is classified as:

• outside the airline’s control, or

• within control but required for safety.

This category is deliberately vague — and widely abused.

Airlines frequently label disruptions as:

• “unexpected maintenance,”

• “technical inspections,”

• “operational safety decisions,”

even when:

• the issue was foreseeable,

• maintenance was delayed,

• spare aircraft or crews were available,

• or the problem originated earlier in the aircraft’s rotation.

In many cases, the airline has the burden of proof — but passengers are rarely equipped to challenge it.

Denied Boarding: When Overbooking Becomes Compensable

APPR also regulates denied boarding due to overbooking.

If you are involuntarily denied boarding for reasons within the airline’s control, compensation can reach:

• CAD 900 — arrival delay of 0–6 hours

• CAD 1,800 — arrival delay of 6–9 hours

• CAD 2,400 — arrival delay of 9+ hours

This is one of the highest statutory compensation amounts globally.

Yet airlines often attempt to:

• pressure passengers into “voluntary” denial,

• offer travel vouchers instead of cash,

• or claim operational necessity without documentation.

Once accepted incorrectly, cash compensation rights may be lost.

Rebooking, Refunds, and Duty of Care Under APPR

Separate from cash compensation, APPR imposes mandatory assistance obligations, including:

• meals and refreshments,

• hotel accommodation for overnight delays,

• transport to and from the hotel,

• rebooking or refunds in case of significant disruption.

Airlines frequently fail to offer these proactively — shifting responsibility onto passengers who later struggle to recover costs.

Failure to provide duty of care can itself strengthen a compensation claim when properly documented.

Why Airlines Reject Valid APPR Claims

Despite clear regulatory text, airlines reject a large percentage of APPR claims because:

1. There is no automatic enforcement
   Airlines are not required to pay unless challenged.

2. Passengers lack access to technical evidence
   Maintenance logs, rotation data, and internal reports are not disclosed voluntarily.

3. CTA complaints take time
   The Canadian Transportation Agency backlog can stretch for months or years.

4. Airlines know most passengers give up
   Delays, silence, and partial responses are strategic.

This is not accidental — it is a calculated cost-control strategy.

APPR vs. Montreal Convention: A Critical Overlap

When APPR compensation is denied, the Montreal Convention (Article 19) may still apply — particularly for:

• long international delays,

• missed connections,

• consequential financial losses.

Airlines rarely mention this option, even though it can apply independently of APPR classifications.

Strategic claims often rely on both frameworks, depending on jurisdiction, carrier behavior, and documented damages.

Why APPR Claims Succeed Only When Escalated Correctly

Successful APPR cases typically involve:

• precise legal qualification of the disruption,

• contradiction of airline safety justifications,

• documented timelines and operational inconsistencies,

• escalation beyond frontline customer service,

• and, when necessary, regulatory or legal pressure.

This is not a DIY process — and airlines are fully aware of that.

Final Thoughts: APPR Is Powerful — But Only If Enforced Properly

Canada’s APPR offers strong passenger protections on paper.
In reality, airlines exploit ambiguity, delay tactics, and information asymmetry to avoid paying compensation they legally owe.

Passengers who rely solely on airline goodwill or generic complaint forms are often denied — even when the law is clearly on their side.

Understanding your rights is important.
Enforcing them effectively is something else entirely.