Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU261, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
EU Regulation 261 is the regulation that covers air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this legislation covers diverse cases, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 includes rules concerning the compensation process, including assistance to people who suffered from flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your specific case.
Compensation for Air Canada Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you under 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 reaches 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 based on the length 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 |
Compensation for Air Canada Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, in such situations, the airline also must provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See essential details about 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 |
Right to Care
Right to Care pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Snacks and drinks appropriate for the waiting time
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
- Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is good to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. In this case, it is worth mentioning 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 operated by airlines based in the EU.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. A few 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).
Moreover, if the airline might have been able to do something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. This regulation also extends to 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. Consequently, they aren’t required to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This applies even to 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 is an unpleasant situation that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face 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 such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
27.06.202521:50 | Air Canada 6656 | Beijing (PEK) Dalian (DLC) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202520:45 | Air Canada 7464 | Hanoi (HAN) Bangkok (BKK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202520:05 | Air Canada 2716 | Brisbane (BNE) Sydney (SYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202519:30 | Air Canada 6984 | Seoul (ICN) Hanoi (HAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202519:30 | Air Canada 6600 | Beijing (PEK) Hangzhou (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202518:50 | Air Canada 6973 | Seoul (ICN) Da Nang (DAD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202518:30 | Air Canada 6626 | Beijing (PEK) Hangzhou (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202518:10 | Air Canada 6265 | Tokyo (HND) Hiroshima (HIJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202518:00 | Air Canada 6225 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (CTS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202517:50 | Air Canada 6235 | Tokyo (NRT) Tokyo (CTS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202516:50 | Air Canada 6014 | Zurich (ZRH) Bari (BRI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:55 | Air Canada 6930 | Zurich (ZRH) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:25 | Air Canada 9473 | Munich (MUC) Hanover (HAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:25 | Air Canada 7594 | Dar Es Salaam (DAR) Dubai (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:15 | Air Canada 9477 | Munich (MUC) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:10 | Air Canada 9108 | Hanover (HAJ) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202514:55 | Air Canada 9699 | Munich (MUC) Bremen (BRE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202514:50 | Air Canada 6970 | London (LHR) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202514:30 | Air Canada 6266 | Tokyo (CTS) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202514:20 | Air Canada 2908 | Beirut (BEY) Cairo (CAI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202514:00 | Air Canada 7410 | Bangkok (BKK) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:50 | Air Canada 9306 | Frankfurt (FRA) Belgrade (BEG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:50 | Air Canada 9365 | Riga (RIX) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:45 | Air Canada 9050 | Berlin (BER) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:40 | Air Canada 9437 | Belgrade (BEG) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:12 | Air Canada 4419 | (ORD) Des Moines (DSM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:05 | Air Canada 9604 | Birmingham (BHX) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202513:00 | Air Canada 9244 | Frankfurt (FRA) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:55 | Air Canada 6779 | Zurich (ZRH) Brussels (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:30 | Air Canada 6320 | Frankfurt (FRA) Brussels (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:25 | Air Canada 6840 | Frankfurt (FRA) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:15 | Air Canada 6328 | Brussels (BRU) Kinshasa (FIH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:12 | Air Canada 5006 | Newark (EWR) West Palm Beach (PBI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:05 | Air Canada 2974 | Paris (CDG) Dubrovnik (DBV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:00 | Air Canada 2897 | Cairo (CAI) Beirut (BEY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:00 | Air Canada 9221 | Frankfurt (FRA) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:55 | Air Canada 6767 | Zurich (ZRH) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:50 | Air Canada 6317 | Brussels (BRU) Douala (DLA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:50 | Air Canada 9390 | Gothenburg (GOT) Munich (MUC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:50 | Air Canada 9342 | Bilbao (BIO) Munich (MUC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:45 | Air Canada 6524 | Geneva (GVA) Beirut (BEY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:40 | Air Canada 6333 | Frankfurt (FRA) Brussels (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:40 | Air Canada 9609 | Frankfurt (FRA) Birmingham (BHX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:30 | Air Canada 5742 | Geneva (GVA) Athens (ATH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:10 | Air Canada 9525 | Frankfurt (FRA) Bilbao (BIO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:05 | Air Canada 6315 | London (LHR) Brussels (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202511:00 | Air Canada 6816 | Geneva (GVA) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202510:45 | Air Canada 9166 | Frankfurt (FRA) Belgrade (BEG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202510:45 | Air Canada 9334 | Munich (MUC) Belgrade (BEG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202510:25 | Air Canada 2975 | Frankfurt (FRA) Dubrovnik (DBV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202510:10 | Air Canada 9115 | Frankfurt (FRA) Bergen (BGO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202510:00 | Air Canada 9343 | Frankfurt (FRA) Riga (RIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:55 | Air Canada 9102 | Gothenburg (GOT) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:50 | Air Canada 9255 | Frankfurt (FRA) Bremen (BRE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:45 | Air Canada 6484 | Brussels (BRU) Riga (RIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:30 | Air Canada 7595 | Dubai (DXB) Dar Es Salaam (DAR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:30 | Air Canada 6468 | Munich (MUC) Tallinn (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:20 | Air Canada 6334 | Brussels (BRU) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:15 | Air Canada 6108 | Sydney (SYD) Queenstown (ZQN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:12 | Air Canada 3241 | Newark (EWR) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:10 | Air Canada 6824 | Zurich (ZRH) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:00 | Air Canada 6466 | Munich (MUC) Riga (RIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:25 | Air Canada 9005 | Bremen (BRE) Frankfurt (FRA) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:15 | Air Canada 8624 | Nashville (BNA) Montreal (YUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:10 | Air Canada 6861 | Frankfurt (FRA) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:00 | Air Canada 7420 | Bangkok (BKK) Singapore (SIN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:00 | Air Canada 7408 | Bangkok (BKK) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:40 | Air Canada 9103 | Frankfurt (FRA) Gothenburg (GOT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:30 | Air Canada 6623 | Xiamen (XMN) Beijing (PEK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:25 | Air Canada 7422 | Bangkok (BKK) Manila (MNL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:25 | Air Canada 6525 | Beirut (BEY) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:15 | Air Canada 6681 | Istanbul (IST) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202507:00 | Air Canada 8835 | Raleigh (RDU) Toronto (YYZ) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202506:35 | Air Canada 6087 | Auckland (AKL) Brisbane (BNE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202506:00 | Air Canada 9078 | Helsinki (HEL) Munich (MUC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202506:00 | Air Canada 3395 | Raleigh (RDU) New York (IAD) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202505:50 | Air Canada 6813 | Rome (MXP) Zurich (ZRH) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202505:15 | Air Canada 3369 | Mc Allen (MFE) Chicago (IAH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202503:00 | Air Canada 9057 | Bangalore (BLR) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202502:20 | Air Canada 7613 | Dubai (DXB) Dammam (DMM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202502:10 | Air Canada 9645 | Bangalore (BLR) Munich (MUC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202523:35 | Air Canada 2743 | Perth (PER) Brisbane (BNE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202523:30 | Air Canada 7414 | Karachi (KHI) Bangkok (BKK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202522:40 | Air Canada 7428 | Bangkok (BKK) Phuket (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202522:40 | Air Canada 6862 | Zurich (ZRH) Johannesburg (JNB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202521:12 | Air Canada 5453 | Denver (DEN) Omaha (OMA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202521:03 | Air Canada 4891 | Denver (DEN) Des Moines (DSM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202520:20 | Air Canada 5679 | Denver (DEN) Billings (BIL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202520:20 | Air Canada 5089 | Denver (DEN) Boise (BOI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202520:00 | Air Canada 6236 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202520:00 | Air Canada 6622 | Beijing (PEK) Shanghai (XIY) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:35 | Air Canada 5218 | Denver (DEN) Boise (BOI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:35 | Air Canada 6817 | Johannesburg (JNB) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:15 | Air Canada 3574 | Denver (DEN) Reno (RNO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:10 | Air Canada 3296 | Newark (EWR) Dubrovnik (DBV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:10 | Air Canada 4121 | Newark (EWR) Dubrovnik (DBV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:07 | Air Canada 3702 | Newark (EWR) Aguadilla (BQN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202519:00 | Air Canada 757 | Boston (BOS) Toronto (YYZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202518:18 | Air Canada 4663 | (ORD) Savannah (SAV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202518:05 | Air Canada 5364 | (ORD) London (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
