Canadians filing air passenger complaints are now waiting nearly three years for a decision from the Canadian Transportation Agency, according to new data released by Toronto-based legaltech startup Courtready.
Courtready’s analysis of air passenger complaints handled by the CTA shows that average wait times have climbed to 987 days—underscoring growing frustration with Canada’s air travel dispute resolution system and mounting pressure on alternative legal pathways.
The data reveals a system processing fewer cases while delays continue to lengthen. Decisions issued by the CTA declined steadily from 7,076 in the third quarter of 2024 to 4,301 in the third quarter of 2025. Over the same period, the average time between a flight disruption and a final decision rose from 692 days to 953 days, reaching its highest level in September 2025.
That month also marked one of the lowest volumes of air passenger complaint decisions in recent years. The CTA issued just 1,348 decisions in September 2025, down roughly 45 percent from a peak of 2,485 decisions in August 2024.
As delays continue to plague the federal complaints process, more Canadians are turning to provincial courts to resolve air passenger disputes—placing additional strain on already stretched court systems and increasing the risks for self-represented litigants navigating complex procedures.
Courtready was founded to address these access-to-justice challenges. The company has launched a suite of tools designed to help Canadians navigate legal processes more efficiently, including its Air Passenger Complaints Tracker, which it says is the first public tool of its kind to track and analyze air travel complaint outcomes.
“I started Courtready because I’ve seen firsthand how Canadians are disadvantaged by long delays and procedural complexity in the legal system,” said co-founder Tom Macintosh Zheng, a licensed lawyer and former litigator. “Courtready ensures that available hearing dates are filled and nothing gets wasted, while giving people the tools and knowledge they need to move their cases forward.”
Courtready’s platform allows users to monitor court availability and receive alerts when last-minute hearing dates open up, helping cases progress more quickly. Its Court Dates Finder provides real-time notifications, while Courtready Academy offers online courses that walk users through managing a lawsuit from start to finish, including air travel complaints. Additional tools help users calculate judgment interest, track deadlines, determine where to file, and prepare for hearings.
For travellers facing disruptions, Courtready’s AirsideAid tool provides immediate guidance on compensation eligibility, whether a delay or cancellation was within an airline’s control, and recommended next steps at the time of the incident.
Founded in July 2025, Courtready says more than 11,000 Canadians are already using its platform. The company is currently available to users in Ontario and plans to expand nationwide by 2027.
With air passenger complaint delays showing no sign of easing, Courtready’s data and tools highlight how legal technology is increasingly stepping in to bridge gaps in access, efficiency, and transparency within Canada’s justice system.