Transport Canada

Transport Canada (TC) is the department of the Canadian federal government responsible for developing policies and programs for Canada's transportation system. In the air sector, the agency acts as the supreme regulatory body, exercising authority under the Aeronautics Act. Its jurisdiction covers all civil aviation within Canadian territory, including private and commercial aircraft, airport infrastructure, and licensing of aviation personnel. The agency works in conjunction with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which is the body whose regulations focus specifically on passengers' economic and social rights, while Transport Canada primarily focuses on operational safety and security.

Official changes from this authority that affect passengers appear in this guide's updates as they are published. Each one is checked against the official document before it goes live.

In Canada, the all-in pricing rule of the Air Transportation Regulations, enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), requires transparent fares:

• Transparency: airlines must show the total ticket price, with taxes and charges, in advertisements and from the start of the purchase.
• Lost or damaged baggage: the Montreal Convention applies, and under the APPR the same limits apply to domestic flights; compensation can reach about 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR).
• Baggage fees: there is no free allowance required by law; baggage fees must be shown clearly before purchase.

Guidelines for pet travel are as follows:

• In-Cabin Transport: The decision to allow pets in the cabin rests with the air carrier, but Transport Canada requires that if permitted, the animal must be in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front.
• Health and Safety: Animals must be vaccinated according to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations.
• Service Animals: Strict rules ensure that trained service dogs (psychiatric or physical support) must be accepted at no additional cost in the cabin, provided they are properly documented according to accessibility guidelines.

Rules for families on flights in Canada:

• Seating together: under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), the airline must seat children near their parent or guardian at no extra cost: under 5, in an adjacent seat; 5 to 11, in the same row with no more than one seat between them; 12 and 13, with no more than one row between the child's row and the parent's.
• Stroller and car seat: airlines usually carry one stroller and one car seat per child free of charge; check your airline's policy.
• Boarding: many airlines offer early boarding for families with young children.

Canada has one of the strictest accessibility regulations in the world (Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations):

• Free Assistance: Carriers must provide, at no cost, assistance for boarding, deplaning, moving within the airport, and assistance with the use of toilets on long-haul flights (if equipment is available on board).
• Wheelchairs: Aircraft must prioritize accommodating passengers' wheelchairs.
• MEDIF: The Medical Information Form (MEDIF) is used only for cases requiring specific medical authorization to fly (e.g., medical oxygen or unstable conditions). Requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance.
• Support person: on domestic flights, large airlines may not charge for the extra seat of a support person needed because of a disability (the “one person, one fare” rule); on international flights, it depends on the airline's policy.

• Transport Canada Travel Hub: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation
• Passenger Rights (Canadian Transportation Agency): https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-passenger-protection-regulations
• Accessibility Regulations: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-244/
• Pet Travel Rules and CFIA: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets
• Aviation Security (Civil Aviation): https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/civil-aviation