Air Canada compensation: how to claim
Air Canada is registered in Canada — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- Canada (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Toronto (YYZ), Montréal (YUL)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Air Canada is registered in Canada — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from Canada or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Air Canada is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Air Canada handles claims
Not an EU or UK carrier, so only departures from Europe are covered by the Regulation.
Canada has its own Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which do cover the flight back from Toronto or Montréal. Amounts and rules differ, and we do not draft for that scheme.
On the covered direction, transatlantic distance puts the claim in the top band.
They tend to respond by referring to the Canadian scheme first. The departure airport is what decides which regime applies.
What a delay on Air Canada is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Toronto (YYZ) | 5,707 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Toronto (YYZ) → London (LHR) | 5,707 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Toronto (YYZ) | 6,019 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Toronto (YYZ) → Paris (CDG) | 6,019 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Air Canada, by what happened
- Air Canada: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Air Canada: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Air Canada: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Air Canada: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Air Canada flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Air Canada yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Air Canada: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Air Canada?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Air Canada is registered in Canada — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Air Canada have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Air Canada?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Air Canada?
Air Canada takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Air Canada, Customer Relations, PO Box 64239, RPO Thorncliffe, Calgary, AB T2K 6J7, Canada. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Air Canada flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.