Ottawa to Raise Maximum Airline Fines to $1M for Passenger Rights Violations

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 28, 2026. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

The federal government is increasing the maximum penalty for airlines that violate passenger protection rules to $1 million, as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening travellers’ rights.

The previous maximum penalty was $250,000, following an earlier increase from $25,000 as part of reforms introduced in the 2023 federal budget.