Air Canada cancellation compensation
Compensation 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). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which Air Canada flights are covered
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.
Worked examples on Air Canada routes
| 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 |
Notice the asymmetry: the same route pays in one direction and not the other, because Air Canada is not a UK or EU airline and only departures from Europe are protected.
What Air Canada is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to Air Canada
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.
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Air Canada cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Air Canada’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. 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 cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from Air Canada for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Air Canada’s routes.
Air Canada cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does Air Canada give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Air Canada cancellation claim?
It depends on where you bring the claim, usually where the flight departed or arrived. Six years in England and Wales; two to five years in most EU countries.
Other Air Canada claims
- 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.