The Montreal Convention is an international treaty, adopted in
1999, and incorporated into Canadian law by way of the
federal Carriage by Air Act. It exclusively governs
the liability of airlines in the case of accidents, delay, and
other incidents involving international carriage between Canada and
countries that have ratified the Convention.
It further seeks to provide uniformity and certainty in claims,
providing clearer rules for passengers and airlines alike. If a
claim is not specifically provided for in the Convention, it is not
recoverable—regardless of local law.
The International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO")
reviews the liability limits every 5 years to adjust for
inflation.
