Was your flight delayed or cancelled due to an Air Canada strike?
You may be legally entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, depending on who went on strike and how Air Canada handled the situation. This applies even if you were offered a rebooking, voucher, or refund your rights go beyond basic reimbursement, and you can still submit a flight compensation claim if certain conditions are met.
Can you claim compensation for an Air Canada strike?
Yes — but it depends on the type of strike.
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you can claim up to €600 if:
- The strike was within Air Canada ´s control (e.g., pilot or cabin crew strike)
- Your flight was delayed 3+ hours, cancelled with short notice, or you were denied boarding
- You had a valid booking and checked in on time
- Air Canada didn’t inform you at least 14 days before the cancellation
Who went on strike - does it matter?
Yes. Whether or not you can claim depends on who organized the strike:
- Air Canada staff ( pilots, cabin crew)
- Air Canada ground crew
- Airport staff
- Air Traffic Control
- General national or sectoral strik
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Airline is responsible for its own staff
Airline responds for employees
Outside airline’s control
Managed by state, not the airline
Political or external, not airline
Examples of issues that give you compensation
Flight operational issues
Cancellation due to a problem related to the crew's planning (i.e. illness or overtime), documents, cargo or fuel loading, etc.
Flight technical issues
The most frequent argument that airlines provide - something is broken on the plane and needs to be repaired. Includes de-icing and accidents like bird or stairs strike, blown tire, etc.
Flight rotation issues
Air Canada cancelled the flight due to previous delays or cancellations that hindered the normal operation of aircraft.
Strikes
Problems due to strikes inside Air Canada.
More about Air Canada
Established as Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) in the spring of 1937 by Canadian federal legislation, the carrier commenced passenger operations on September 1, 1937, flying from Vancouver to Seattle aboard a Lockheed Electra and carrying just two passengers and mail. By 1965, it had officially adopted the Air Canada name, transitioning from a government-run entity to a privatized airline by 1988–89. Today, as Canada’s flag carrier and largest airline, Air Canada serves over 220 global destinations and is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its roots in innovation are notable—TCA was the first airline in the world to deploy a computer reservation system with remote terminals, ReserVec, in 1953. The 2000 acquisition of Canadian Airlines International solidified Air Canada’s dominance, giving it upwards of 90% share of domestic Canadian air traffic.
While Air Canada’s legacy looms large, its operational performance continues to draw scrutiny. In 2024, only 71% of its nearly 386,000 flights landed on time—improving from 63% in 2023, yet still placing Air Canada ninth among North America’s largest airlines. It also logged the fourth-highest count of cancellations on the continent, with 10,816 flights canceled. Winter 2024–2025 was particularly turbulent: reportedly 40% of passengers faced disruptions, nearly 900,000 Canadians endured cancellations, and 580,000 delays exceeded three hours, making many eligible for compensation. In mid-August 2025, the airline was rocked by a strike from over 10,000 flight attendants (CUPE members)—triggering the cancellation of up to 700 daily flights and affecting 130,000 travelers per day, with at least 500,000 passengers impacted over the strike’s duration. A tentative agreement reached on August 19 enabled a phased resumption of operations, which ramped to nearly full service by August 22, with 98–99% of flights operating on schedule
How much can you claim?
The amount of flight claim compensation you receive depends on the distance of your flight and can be €250, €400, or €600. You can also claim for care expenses with food, transport and accommodation as well as a refund of the alternative flight.
250€
Up to 1500 km
400€
From 1500 km to 3500 km
600€
More than 3500 km
How to claim Flight Compensation Step-by-Step
Claiming your airline strike compensation with AireClaim is quick and simple:
1. Complete your flight compensation form
- Enter your departure airport and final destination.
- Indicate if you had connecting flights.
2. Add your disruption details
- Select the type of disruption (delay, cancellation, missed connection).
- Enter the scheduled and actual arrival times.
3. Provide the reason for the disruption (if known)
4. Review and submit
- We’ll analyse your case, contact Air Canada, and handle all the paperwork at no upfront cost.
Our process covers all types of air travel disruptions from cancellations to flight delays and missed flights — ensuring you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
You can start your claim now using our secure online form.
Was your flight disrupted due to an airline strike?
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FAQs About Air Canada Strike Compensation
Airlines have the ability to complicate compensation claims, delaying or rejecting them and making the process irritating.
We can help with that. We take care of all the paperwork, discussions, and even court appearances, saving you the trouble. Our professionals maximize your chances of winning because they are experienced in air passenger rights laws. Additionally, we don't charge a service fee until we are successful in getting you paid.
You can still claim your flight delay compensation if:
- The initial delay caused you to miss your connecting flight.
- Your final arrival at the destination was more than 3 hours late.
- Both flights were part of the same booking.
Learn more about our full process for missed connection compensation.
Yes, your citizenship does not impact your rights as an air passenger.