Flight delayed or cancelled? Learn the required first step, the CTA complaint process, and current wait times — with direct links and drafting help.
Find Your Path
Step 1 — Complain to the airline first (required)
You must send your complaint to the airline in writing and wait up to 30 days for their response before the CTA can accept your case. Keep proof of when and how you sent it.
Step 2 — File with the Canadian Transportation Agency
If the airline hasn't resolved it after 30 days, submit the official air travel complaint form. This is what puts you in the CTA's queue.
CTA Air Travel Complaints — 1-888-222-2592 →Be realistic about timing
The CTA's backlog has been widely reported at roughly 97,000 complaints as of mid-2026, with independent analysis finding average resolution times approaching three years. Filing is still worth doing — it's the only formal route — but don't expect a fast answer.
Know your rights under the APPR
The Air Passenger Protection Regulations set out what airlines owe you for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding depending on the cause and length of disruption. The CTA's own site has the current compensation categories.
CTA — Air Travel Complaints Overview →Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA doesn't replace the CTA or speed up its queue — nothing can do that except the CTA clearing its backlog. What it does is help you draft a clear, factual written complaint to the airline (the mandatory first step), in one of 7 languages, so that record is solid if you do need to escalate.
No need to read this whole guide — Asya can ask a few questions and draft your airline complaint in seconds.
Start with Asya Now →Frequently Asked
Can I complain to the CTA right away?
No — you must complain to the airline in writing first and wait up to 30 days before the CTA can accept your case.
How long does the CTA take?
The Agency has a large backlog — around 97,000 complaints as of mid-2026 — with independent analysis finding average resolution times approaching three years.
What is the APPR?
The Air Passenger Protection Regulations — federal rules on airline obligations and compensation for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, enforced by the CTA.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic complaint platform that routes you to the correct authority, with AI-assisted drafting in 7 languages, an MP finder, a lawyer panel, and cyber crime reporting support.
I'm Deaf or hard of hearing — how do I call a phone-only authority?
Use Canada VRS (free sign-language video relay, available 24/7) or dial 711 for a text-based relay operator — both let you place a real phone call to any number listed on this page.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.