Air Transat compensation: how to claim
Air Transat 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
- Montréal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ)
- Typical first response
- About 50 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Air Transat 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 Transat 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 Transat handles claims
A Canadian leisure carrier, so only the departure from a European airport is covered by the Regulation.
Their European programme is highly seasonal, which means low frequencies and long delays when an aircraft goes technical.
Transatlantic distance puts every covered claim in the top band, so a family booking is worth well over a thousand pounds even at a single carrier.
Canada’s own passenger protection scheme covers the westbound return, on different terms.
What a delay on Air Transat is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Montréal (YUL) | 5,214 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Montréal (YUL) → London (LHR) | 5,214 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Montréal (YUL) | 5,523 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Montréal (YUL) → Paris (CDG) | 5,523 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 Transat, by what happened
- Air Transat: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Air Transat: 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 Transat: 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 Transat: 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 Transat flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Air Transat 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 Transat: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Air Transat?
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 Transat is registered in Canada — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Air Transat 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 Transat?
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 Transat?
Air Transat takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Air Transat, Customer Relations, 5959 boulevard Côte-Vertu Ouest, Montréal, QC H4S 0A5, Canada. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Air Transat 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.