Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR)
Canada APPR: Flight Compensation Rights Explained
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) sit between the European and U.S. models. They pay fixed cash compensation — but only when the disruption is within the airline's control and not required for safety, and the amount scales by how late you arrive rather than by distance.
Reviewed June 2026 · Source: the Canadian Transportation Agency (otc-cta.gc.ca) and APPR SOR/2019-150
What you're owed
CA$400 / CA$700 / CA$1,000 by arrival delay (large carriers)
Enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).
TL;DR, verified June 26, 2026
What does Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) actually give you?
Direct answer: CA$400 / CA$700 / CA$1,000 by arrival delay (large carriers). This summary is checked against Canadian Transportation Agency APPR guidance, accessed June 26, 2026.
| Sourced fact | How to use it | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CA$400 / CA$700 / CA$1,000 large-carrier delay compensation | APPR pays by arrival delay length when the disruption is within airline control and not safety-related. | Canadian Transportation Agency APPR guidance, accessed June 26, 2026 |
| Airlines must respond to compensation claims within 30 days | The CTA process starts with the airline before escalation. | Canadian Transportation Agency APPR guidance, accessed June 26, 2026 |
Method: DelayPayer summarizes the regulator's public rule set; it does not decide legal liability. Re-check the official source and airline response before filing or escalating a claim.
When APPR applies
APPR covers all flights to, from, and within Canada, on any airline. Some entitlements differ between “large” and “small” carriers, including the compensation amounts.
Compensation amounts (large carriers)
Compensation is payable only for delays within the airline's control and not safety-related, by arrival delay:
- CA$400 — arrival 3 to under 6 hours late
- CA$700 — arrival 6 to under 9 hours late
- CA$1,000 — arrival 9 or more hours late
Denied boarding
Involuntary denied boarding (overbooking) is compensated at CA$900, CA$1,800, or CA$2,400 depending on how late you ultimately arrive — separate from your refund or re-routing.
Three categories of disruption
APPR sorts every disruption into one of three buckets: within the airline's control (full entitlements including compensation), within the airline's control but required for safety (care and rebooking, no compensation), and outside the airline's control (rebooking, limited care). The category the airline assigns decides what you get — so always ask for it in writing.
Care and refunds
Regardless of category, longer delays trigger food, drink, and (for overnight delays) hotel and transport. If a delay reaches 3+ hours and you no longer want to travel, you're entitled to a refund.
Check your own flight
See instantly whether your specific flight qualifies and how much it's worth — free, no personal data.
Check my compensationFrequently asked questions
How is APPR different from EU261?
Two big differences: APPR scales compensation by how late you arrive (not flight distance), and it only pays when the disruption is within the airline's control AND not safety-related — a narrower trigger than EU261. Amounts also differ for small carriers.
Who do I claim from under APPR?
Claim from the airline first — they must respond within 30 days. If they refuse or don't respond, file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).