The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) has jurisdiction (legal authority) over most small claims disputes of $5,000 and under in BC. People often file claims about disputes with airlines.
On October 30, 2025 the BC Supreme Court found that claims for flight delays, cancellations, or being denied boarding must be handled by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), not the CRT. See Air Passenger Rights v WestJet Airlines Ltd., 2025 BCSC 2145.
Air Passenger Rights, which is the non-profit organization that started that court proceeding, appealed that decision.
BC Court of Appeal decision
On August 26, 2026, the BC Court of Appeal (BCCA) published its decision disagreeing with the BCSC. See Air Passenger Rights v. WestJet Airlines Ltd., 2026 BCCA 357. The BCCA determined that the CRT has jurisdiction to resolve compensation claims related to flight disputes.
The BCCA decision is binding on the CRT. Tribunal members are independent decision-makers. They make decisions based on the law, and the evidence and arguments from the participants.
The CRT can’t predict if the BCCA decision will be further appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). There is a 60-day deadline to ask the SCC for permission to have the appeal heard. If the decision is appealed to the SCC, that process could take several months or longer.
If you have a flight-related dispute
We are evaluating next steps for current CRT disputes related to these types of claims. We will contact participants in current flight-related CRT disputes to inform them of their options.
We can’t provide legal advice. We encourage you to get independent legal advice if you have a flight-related dispute, including advice about any applicable limitation periods or deadlines. See Where can I get legal advice and other support?