Air Passenger Protection Amendments

Summary#

The Government of Canada has published a proposal to change the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). The changes, published on December 21, 2024, would give passengers clearer rights after delays, cancellations and bumping, speed up refunds, require better communications, and set new rebooking, assistance and compensation rules.

What it does#

• Replaces the old three‑category system for disruptions with a clearer rule: passengers get compensation for delays and cancellations unless an explicitly listed “exceptional circumstance” applies. The list includes things like war, severe weather, airport closure, air traffic restrictions, bird strike, certain technical problems, labour disputes and orders by authorities.
• Sets exact timelines and minimum payments for compensation:
  • For delays/cancellations by a large carrier: $400, $700, or $1,000 depending on how late the passenger arrives.
  • For delays/cancellations by a small carrier: $125, $250, or $500.
  • For denied boarding (bumping): $900, $1,800, or $2,400 depending on arrival delay.
• Requires assistance (standards of treatment) for all disruptions after 2 hours. That includes food, access to a means of communication, and overnight accommodation where needed. If the disruption is an exceptional circumstance, assistance is limited to 72 hours.
• Tightens rebooking rules:
  • Large carriers must offer their next available flight (or a partner’s) leaving within 9 hours, or any carrier within 48 hours from the same airport if they cannot.
  • Small carriers must offer their next available flight (or a partner’s) within 48 hours, or any carrier within 72 hours; if rebooked from another airport, the original carrier must provide free transport between airports.
• Lets passengers request a refund earlier:
  • Immediately for cancellations and denied boarding.
  • After a 3‑hour departure delay (or if a connection is missed/likely to be missed).
  • Refunds must be paid within 15 days (down from 30 days).
• Improves communication requirements:
  • Carriers must collect passengers’ preferred electronic contact at check‑in and send timely electronic updates (and audible gate notices of those updates).
  • Carriers must update passengers every 30 minutes until rebooked, refunded, or a new departure time is set.
• Requires carriers to publish a clear claims process on their website and to respond to compensation requests with a decision and a detailed explanation:
  • Decision/explanation for denied compensation must be given within 30 days (or within 48 hours for bumping denials, which must include supporting evidence).
• Requires that children under 14 be seated next to their parent, guardian or tutor at no extra cost at the time of reservation; if not possible the carrier must warn the purchaser and assign such a seat as soon as feasible.
• Treats small and large carriers differently in some rules to reflect operational realities (for example, no chain‑reaction time limit for small carriers; large carriers have a 24‑hour window for knock‑on effects).
• Raises the maximum administrative monetary penalty for corporations to $250,000 for designated violations.

Who's affected#

• Passengers flying from, to or within Canada. The rules aim to make refunds, rebooking and compensation easier and faster for travelers.
• Canadian air carriers, both large carriers and small carriers. The government estimates industry costs at a present value of $512.4 million over 10 years.
• Smaller regional and northern carriers are singled out for special treatment, but they will still face some new obligations. The proposal estimates 11 small air carriers (small businesses) would incur a combined present value cost of $1.02 million over 10 years (about $13,149 per business annually).
• The Canadian Transportation Agency would handle fewer unclear complaints if the rules reduce disputes. The Agency is the body that ran the consultation and prepared the analysis.

Why it matters#

• For travelers: the proposal would make it clearer when you are owed help, a rebooking, a refund, or money for inconvenience. You would get refunds faster (15 days), more proactive electronic updates, and stronger guarantees that a child under 14 sits next to an accompanying adult.
• For airlines: carriers will face higher and more certain costs for refunds, rebookings, assistance and compensation. The government’s cost‑benefit work finds a modest net present benefit of $14.9 million to society over 10 years (benefits to passengers $527.3 million, costs to carriers $512.4 million).
• For remote and Indigenous communities: the rules try to balance protections with operational realities by keeping special allowances for small and northern carriers, while giving passengers in those areas stronger rebooking options.
• Next steps: these are proposed amendments, not yet law. The Canada Gazette notice invites comments for 75 days after publication (this was published on December 21, 2024).