Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU261/2004, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. This article will focus on Air Canada flight compensation, explaining when you may be entitled to it and how to claim it.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
The EU 261 is the legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. In particular, this regulation covers diverse cases, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. In addition, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
The EU 261 contains regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance for passengers who suffered from flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your specific case.
Air Canada Flight Cancellation Compensation
First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.
At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the duration of the delay:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Air Canada Flight Delay Compensation
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the delay time, with longer delays generally resulting in higher compensation amounts. When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, in such situations, the airline also must provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See essential details on compensation in the table below:
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
When submitting a compensation claim for a delayed flight, providing accurate flight details is essential to support your case.
Right to Care
Right to Care relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Food and drinks appropriate to the waiting time
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
- Transport between the airport and the hotel
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
In situations where a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to get reimbursement. In this case, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is determined by the distance of a flight:
- 30% of the flight tickets cost for a 1,500 km distance or less;
- 50% of the flight tickets cost (specifically, for intra-EU flights that are over 1,500 km and all other flights with a 1,500 km and 3,500 km distance;
- 75% of the ticket price for flights with a 3,500+ km distance.
Keep in mind that these rights apply to all flights within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union by airlines based in the EU.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are not within the airline’s control. Some of the examples are as follows:
- Bad weather conditions and natural disasters;
- Political circumstances (related security risks, terrorist attacks);
- A collision of the aircraft and foreign objects (birds, for instance);
- Unruly or very ill passengers;
- Strikes (that are not caused by the airline’s crew).
Furthermore, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from EU airports. It also covers flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Nevertheless, Air Canada is not a European airline. Therefore, they are not obliged to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This is true even for their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Air Canada Compensation
Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
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