by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 8:35 AM ET, Tue February 3, 2026
Editor’s note: The Canadian Transportation Agency provided a response to this story after publication. Its comments are covered in a separate follow-up article.
New data released today by Courtready shows Canadians are waiting significantly longer for air travel-related complaint decisions, with average wait times approaching three years.
An analysis of air passenger complaints handled by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) found that passengers now wait an average of 987 days for a decision.
The findings point to mounting backlogs and growing frustration among travellers seeking compensation or resolution after flight disruptions.
According to the data, the number of airline-related decisions issued by the CTA has been steadily declining, dropping from 7,076 in the third quarter of 2024 to 4,301 in the third quarter of 2025.
RELATED: CTA Explains Air Passenger Complaint Backlog and Wait Times
At the same time, the gap between a flight disruption and a final decision continues to widen.
In September 2025, the average time between flight date and decision reached 987 days, the highest level recorded since January 2024.
Monthly decision volumes are also at historically low levels. September 2025 marked the second-lowest monthly total since March 2024, with 1,348 decisions issued, a decline of roughly 45% from the August 2024 peak of 2,485.
RELATED: Air Travel Complaints Surge, CTA Backlog Tops 85,000
As delays persist, more Canadians are turning to provincial courts to pursue air passenger complaints. Courtready says its tools are designed to help individuals move cases forward by monitoring court availability and alerting users when last-minute hearing dates open up.
“I started Courtready because I have seen, first hand, how Canadians are seriously disadvantaged in the legal system, so I am taking this issue into my own hands. I am on a mission to make our legal system more accessible for everyone,” said Tom Macintosh Zheng, co-founder of Courtready.
“Courtready ensures every single possible hearing date is filled, so nothing gets wasted. Courtready offers a seamless entry point for individuals to learn about the system and ultimately empowers them to take control of their legal journey.”
Macintosh Zheng, a licensed lawyer and former litigator, said his experience showed that legal outcomes often depend on access to experienced counsel, specialized tools, and procedural knowledge.
Founded in July 2025, Courtready is now used by more than 11,000 Canadians. The platform is currently available in Ontario, with plans to expand nationwide by 2027.
Alongside the data release, Courtready says it has launched new tools, including the Air Passenger Complaints Tracker, which publicly tracks and analyzes complaint outcomes. Other tools include hearing date alerts, online courses covering air travel complaints, and calculators to help users manage deadlines and filings.
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