EU261 vs APPR: European vs Canadian Flight Delay Rights Compared

• ›

  Regulation name: EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) vs Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR)

• ›

  Jurisdiction: EU and UK departures (any carrier) + EU/UK carriers on all routes (EU261) vs Canadian departures (any carrier) + Canadian carriers on international arrivals (APPR)

• ›

  Delay threshold for compensation: 3-hour arrival delay (EU261) vs 3-hour departure delay, measured at final destination (APPR)

• ›

  Compensation (short delay, large carrier): 250 euros at 3h (EU261) vs CAD $400 at 3h (APPR)

• ›

  Compensation (long delay, large carrier): 600 euros 3500km+ (EU261) vs CAD $1,000 at 9h+ (APPR)

• ›

  Extraordinary circumstances exemption: Yes, exempts from cash compensation (EU261) vs Yes, exempts from cash compensation (APPR)

• ›

  Refund right for cancellations: Yes, Article 8 (EU261) vs Yes, with 14-day notice rule (APPR)

• ›

  Care rights: Meals, hotel, transport from 2h+ (EU261) vs Meals, hotel from 2h+ (APPR)

• ›

  Best for: Short to medium delay, any carrier at an EU airport (EU261) vs Longer delays (9h+) at Canadian airports, Canadian carrier flights (APPR)

• ›

  Verdict: EU261 covers more carriers and routes globally. APPR pays more for very long delays on large Canadian carriers.

The most important practical difference is which routes each regulation covers.

• ›

  EU261: Applies to all flights departing from EU or UK airports (any carrier, any nationality). Also applies to flights arriving in the EU or UK on EU or UK carriers. A US carrier flying from Paris to New York is covered by EU261 on the Paris departure. A European carrier flying from New York to Paris is covered by EU261 on the New York departure (EU carrier).

• ›

  APPR: Applies to all flights departing from Canadian airports (any carrier). Also applies to international arrivals on Canadian carriers. An Air Canada flight from London to Toronto is covered by APPR.

• ›

  Cross-border route (Toronto to London): A flight on Air Canada from Toronto to London is covered by both APPR (Canadian departure) and, if Air Canada is classified as a 'Community carrier,' potentially EU261 on the return. In practice, APPR applies to the Canadian departure.

The compensation amounts differ in structure. EU261 uses distance bands. APPR uses delay length bands (for large carriers).

• ›

  3-hour delay, short-haul (under 1,500 km): EU261: 250 euros. APPR (large carrier): CAD $400 (~220-230 USD equivalent).

• ›

  3-hour delay, medium-haul (1,500 to 3,500 km): EU261: 400 euros. APPR (large carrier): CAD $400.

• ›

  3-hour delay, long-haul (over 3,500 km): EU261: 600 euros. APPR (large carrier): CAD $400.

• ›

  9-hour delay (any distance): EU261: 250 to 600 euros (same as 3-hour, distance-based). APPR (large carrier): CAD $1,000.

• ›

  Key insight: EU261 pays more for long-haul 3-hour delays (600 euros vs CAD $400). APPR pays more for very long delays on any route (CAD $1,000 at 9 hours vs EU261's unchanged 600 euros for the same long-haul route).

Both EU261 and APPR exempt airlines from cash compensation when disruptions are caused by extraordinary circumstances (EU261) or circumstances outside the airline's control (APPR). The scope of these exemptions is broadly similar but with nuances.

• ›

  EU261 extraordinary circumstances: Severe weather, ATC strikes, airport security incidents, political instability, hidden aircraft defects. The airline bears the burden of proof.

• ›

  APPR outside airline control: Weather, ATC restrictions, airport authority directives, medical emergencies. APPR adds a 'safety exception' category (within airline control but required for safety) with reduced obligations.

• ›

  Both: Refund rights and care rights survive the extraordinary circumstances/outside-control exemption. Only cash compensation is removed.

APPR's rebooking rights are more explicit and potentially stronger than EU261's for certain scenarios. APPR requires airlines to rebook passengers on any available carrier (not just their own flights) if the disruption is within airline control and the airline has no alternative within 9 hours. EU261 requires rebooking at 'the earliest opportunity' under comparable conditions.

For Air Canada or WestJet travellers in Canada facing a cancelled flight with no available rebooking on the same airline for 10+ hours, the APPR obligation to book on a competitor carrier can be more immediately useful than EU261's comparable transport requirement.

EU261 enforcement is handled by National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) in each EU or UK member state. APPR enforcement is handled centrally by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

• ›

  EU261 NEB: File with the NEB of your departure country. 27 EU national bodies plus UK CAA. Processing speed and quality vary significantly by country.

• ›

  APPR CTA: Single body, centralised process. CTA complaint volumes have created significant processing backlogs in recent years.

• ›

  Small claims court: Available as a parallel track in both jurisdictions. Often faster than NEB or CTA resolution for clear-cut cases.

For the APPR-specific filing process, see Air Canada delay rights and APPR and Canadian APPR rules. For EU261 claims, see the EU261 rights overview. For US DOT rights on transatlantic routes, see how to get a refund from an airline.

Common questions about EU261 vs APPR passenger rights.