The battle over compensation for delayed and cancelled flights has reached the Federal Court of Appeal.

Both Air Canada and WestJet have started legal actions to challenge different Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) decisions where, in each instance, the airline was mandated to pay $1,000 to one or more customers for a trip that was cancelled due to a staffing shortfall.

In court documents, the airlines each claim that they shouldn’t be required to pay because the CTA, Canada’s transport watchdog and quasi-judicial tribunal, erred in its interpretation of the country’s compensation laws.

Consumer advocate and attorney John Lawford warned that further compensation claims for flight disruptions may be impacted if the airlines succeed in their appeals.