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✓ You only pay if you get compensation✓ Up to €600 per passenger✓ EC Regulation 261/2004
Air CanadaDelay · Cancellation · Overbooking

Air Canada compensation: up to €600 per passenger

Air Canada flight delayed, cancelled or overbooked? Check for free in 2 minutes: we handle the claim, all the way to court if needed.

  • Up to €600 per passenger
  • Check in just 2 minutes
  • Nothing upfront: you only pay if you get compensation
  • Legal assistance specialised in air travel
DelayFlight24 applies European Regulation EC 261/2004
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  • Data protected
  • Nothing upfront
  • You only pay if we win
  • Transparent feeOnly 25% + VAT and only if Air Canada pays: out of €400 you receive €278.
  • All the way to courtIf Air Canada does not pay, our lawyers take the airline to court, at no extra cost to you.
  • Claims handled87,811 passengers have already trusted usupdated in real time

In short

  • Delay: if you arrive 3 hours or more late, Air Canada owes €250 to €600 per person, depending on the distance.
  • Cancellation: you are owed compensation if you were told less than 14 days before departure, on top of a ticket refund or an alternative flight.
  • Not owed for extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, air traffic control strikes). Technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff usually are not extraordinary.
  • With DelayFlight24 you pay nothing upfront: if Air Canada pays, you keep €173.75 out of €250 or €278 out of €400.

Air Canada claims in numbers

Figures from the Air Canada claims we have handled for our customers, updated daily.

274Air Canada passengers have trusted us
56%of claims concern delayed flights
34%concern cancelled flights
9%concern overbooking and denied boarding

Air Canada routes with the most claims

Air Canada routes with the most claims
RoutekmOwed
LondonToronto5,711600 €Check
AmsterdamToronto5,993600 €Check
LondonMontréal5,220600 €Check
Frankfurt am MainVancouver8,068600 €Check
MunichToronto6,646600 €Check
MadridToronto6,062600 €Check
DublinToronto5,264600 €Check
TorontoMunich6,646600 €Check

Amount per person for arrival delays of at least 3 hours, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice and overbooking, unless there were extraordinary circumstances.

Air Canada compensation: which flights qualify under EU and UK rules

Air Canada is Canada's flag carrier, linking London, Dublin and much of Europe with Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. A long delay on a transatlantic trip means missed connections in Canada, extra hotel nights and lost holiday. We have handled more than 180 Air Canada claims: over half were about delays and a third about cancellations. When the right exists, the amount is almost always the top band: €600 per passenger, or £520 on flights from the UK.

The key point: Air Canada is not a European airline. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 only applies to its flights departing from an airport in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, and the UK version (UK261) only to its flights departing from the UK. Your Air Canada flight home from Canada is not covered by either.

Delay on the way out

Your Air Canada flight from Europe or the UK lands at your final destination 3 hours or more late.

3 hours or more

Cancellation

The flight from Europe is cancelled with under 14 days' notice and the alternative is too far from the original times.

Under 14 days' notice

Denied boarding

The flight was oversold and you were turned away at a European gate.

Due immediately

Not covered

Air Canada flights leaving Canada or other non-EU countries, and events beyond the airline's control that it can prove.

Flights from Canada excluded

Not sure which side of the line your flight falls? Enter the route and date and we will check.

How much Air Canada pays: usually the maximum

Every route between Europe and Canada is longer than 3,500 km, so compensation sits in the highest band. These are the routes we see most often.

Air Canada flight Rules Amount
London Heathrow–Toronto, London Heathrow–Montréal UK261 £520
Amsterdam–Toronto, Munich–Toronto EU261 €600
Dublin–Toronto, Madrid–Toronto EU261 €600

The amount is per person, whatever the fare or cabin. A family of four, children with their own seats included, on a Dublin–Toronto flight that landed five hours late can claim €2,400.

Air Canada flight delayed: building your claim before take-off

Many Air Canada delays start on the other side of the Atlantic: the aircraft due to take you to Canada arrives late from Toronto or Montréal. To keep your claim strong:

  1. Save the boarding pass from the Air Canada app, plus your booking reference.
  2. Screenshot the app alerts showing new times and any reason given.
  3. Note the real arrival time in Canada, even if you continue on a domestic flight.
  4. Keep receipts for meals and hotels if no vouchers were provided.
  5. Think twice about vouchers or Aeroplan points: accepting may settle the matter for less than €600.

Care at the airport on Air Canada flights from Europe

On long-haul flights, meals and drinks are due after 4 hours; if departure moves to the next day, Air Canada must also provide a hotel and transfers.

Type of flight Care from
Short, up to 1,500 km 2 hours
Medium, 1,500–3,500 km 3 hours
Transatlantic, over 3,500 km 4 hours
Wait of 5 hours or more Right to drop the trip with a refund

Missed connection in Toronto or Montréal

Booked London to Calgary via Toronto on one ticket and missed the onward flight? What counts is your arrival in Calgary: more than 3 hours late there is worth the full amount. On separate tickets, only the transatlantic leg counts. More on our page about Air Canada delay compensation.

Does your Air Canada flight qualify?Check in 2 minutes, with no obligation.
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Air Canada flight cancelled from Europe or the UK

When it cancels a flight out of Europe, Air Canada usually rebooks you on the next day's service or via another hub.

New flight or ticket refund

Your choice, always, even if you were told months in advance.

€600 or £520 compensation

Added on top when notice was under 14 days and Air Canada cannot prove an extraordinary cause.

Notice given Compensation
At least 14 days None; refund or rebooking remain
Between 7 and 13 days Due, unless the replacement leaves no more than 2 hours early and lands within 4 hours
Under 7 days Due, unless the replacement leaves no more than 1 hour early and lands within 2 hours

Schedule changes. A major retiming announced close to departure can count as a cancellation according to the EU Court of Justice. See our guide on Air Canada cancellation compensation.

Air Canada overbooking at European airports

Almost 1 in 10 of our Air Canada claims involves denied boarding, a high share compared with other airlines. If it happens at a European or UK airport and you did not volunteer your seat, you are owed the full amount, a new flight or refund, and care. Details on our page about Air Canada overbooking.

Air Canada strike: the 2025 flight attendants' walkout

In August 2025 Air Canada's flight attendants went on strike for several days and thousands of flights were cancelled, including departures from London and Europe. According to the EU Court of Justice, a strike by the airline's own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance (case C-28/20). If your flight from a European airport was cancelled in those days, compensation is normally due. A European air traffic control strike is different: no compensation, but care still applies.

Air Canada rejected your claim? Reasons worth checking

Usually payable
"Maintenance issue"

A fault found during checks is part of running a fleet.

EU Court of Justice, case C-549/07
Usually payable
"Crew unavailable"

Rostering pilots and cabin crew, and keeping reserves, is the airline's job.

Depends
"Your flight departed from Canada"

If Air Canada operated it, EU261 does not apply. If it was a codeshare operated by Lufthansa or another European airline, it does.

Often not payable
"Snow and ice in Toronto"

A real snowstorm is extraordinary, but it must have affected your flight. We check before we answer you.

Has Air Canada said no? Replies often mix up Canadian rules with European ones. We review the answer and, if your flight left Europe or the UK, we push on to court if needed. Check your Air Canada flight.

Flights from Canada, codeshares and Air Canada Rouge: what is covered

Air Canada is a Star Alliance member and sells many codeshare flights. What matters is the airline actually operating the aircraft:

  • Europe or UK → Canada, operated by Air Canada: covered by EU261 or UK261.
  • Canada → Europe or UK, operated by Air Canada: not covered; Canada has its own passenger protection rules with their own amounts.
  • AC flight number, operated by Lufthansa, Swiss or Austrian: covered both ways, as the operator is European.
  • Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express: group brands for leisure and regional flights, under the same rules as Air Canada.

How to claim from Air Canada: on your own or with us

Air Canada takes claims through the Customer Relations online form at aircanada.com. Make clear your flight departed from the EU or UK, or the reply may apply Canadian rules only.

On your own

Free, but you deal with a Canadian customer service team and challenge refusals yourself, up to the enforcement body of the country you departed from (the CAA for UK flights) or the courts.

With DelayFlight24

Sign online in minutes and we handle everything, court included, with our own lawyers. Our fee is 25% + VAT only if you are paid; legal costs are ours even if the case is lost.

Already refused by Air Canada

Send us the reply: if the flight was covered and the reason does not stand up, we send a letter before action.

Useful documents

  • Air Canada booking referenceWith the full itinerary, onward legs included.
  • PassportFor every passenger, children included.
  • Alerts and receiptsAir Canada emails, app screenshots, expenses.

Deadlines for an Air Canada claim

The Regulation sets no time limit: the law of the country where you claim decides (EU Court of Justice, case C-139/11). If you flew Air Canada out of Europe in recent years, the 2025 strike days included, check whether you are still in time.

How long Air Canada takes to pay

When Air Canada accepts, the transfer usually arrives within a few weeks. If it refuses, the formal letter and any court action add a few months. Once paid, we pass your share on to you.

Delayed bags on Air Canada flights

A suitcase left behind in Toronto is a classic on transatlantic trips. The Montreal Convention applies: file a PIR on arrival and send your claim within 7 days for damage or within 21 days of delivery for a delay.

Air Canada contacts and flight status

Head office
Air Canada, Saint-Laurent (Montréal), Québec, Canada, at Montréal–Trudeau airport
Claims
Customer Relations online form at aircanada.com
Flight status
Air Canada app or aircanada.com
You pay only when you get paid. No upfront fees and no legal costs if the case goes against us. Check your Air Canada flight.

What if Air Canada does not pay? We go all the way

Many airlines only pay when they realise we will not give up. If they refuse or do not reply, our lawyers take legal action, and you do not have to do anything.

Claim to the airline

We send the formal claim with all the documents.

Formal notice

If they do not pay, we send a formal notice with legal value.

Our lawyers in court

Our lawyers take the airline to court, all the way to a judgement.

  • If we lose, you pay nothingNo fee and no costs. If we win, the fee is 40% + VAT.
  • Legal costs are on usYou pay nothing for the court case, even if we lose.
  • All the way to a judgementWe do not stop at the formal notice: if needed we go to court.

Air Canada compensation: frequently asked questions

How much does Air Canada pay for a delayed flight from Europe?
Routes between Europe and Canada are all over 3,500 km, so compensation is €600 per passenger, or £520 on flights from the UK, if you arrive at least 3 hours late.
Is my Air Canada flight from Toronto to London covered?
No, if Air Canada operated it. As a Canadian airline it is bound by EU261 and UK261 only on flights departing from Europe or the UK. If the return was a codeshare operated by a European airline, it is covered.
My flight was cancelled in the August 2025 strike. Can I claim?
If it departed from an EU or UK airport, usually yes. The walkout was by Air Canada's own flight attendants, and the EU Court of Justice does not treat a strike by an airline's staff as extraordinary.
I missed my connection in Toronto. What am I owed?
On a single booking that started in Europe or the UK, the delay at your final destination is what counts. Arriving more than 3 hours late there entitles you to the full amount.
Air Canada offered Aeroplan points or a voucher. Should I accept?
You do not have to. Compensation must be paid in money unless you agree in writing to something else. Check whether you are owed €600 or £520 before accepting.
Are Air Canada Rouge flights covered?
Yes, on the same terms as Air Canada: covered when departing from Europe or the UK, not on flights from Canada.
Which rules apply to London Heathrow–Toronto?
UK261, the UK version of the EU rules, which pays £520 on flights over 3,500 km. Enter your flight and we will tell you what you are owed.
Air Canada rejected my claim. Is there anything else I can do?
Yes. Rejections often cite Canadian rules or a technical problem that does not remove your right. If the flight left Europe or the UK, we review the reply and take it further with a formal letter and, if needed, court action with our own lawyers.
What does DelayFlight24 charge for an Air Canada claim?
Nothing upfront. We keep 25% + VAT only if you are paid: from €600 you receive €417 (from €250 or €400 you would keep €173.75 or €278). Legal costs are ours even if the case is lost.

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Air Canada flight delayed or cancelled?

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