The Canadian government has yet to finalize updates to the air passenger bill of rights, despite promising changes over two years ago. This delay may disappoint Canadian air travelers who are experiencing delays themselves. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) proposed new regulations a year ago and recently concluded consultations on those proposals. However, the regulations still need approval from the cabinet before coming into effect.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon expressed frustration with the current system during a news conference, emphasizing the need to improve it for Canadians. The initial air passenger protection regulations were implemented in 2019, requiring airlines to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations within their control. Nevertheless, the CTA is facing a significant backlog of 88,000 complaints from passengers regarding denied compensation.
One affected traveler, Gerald Van De Ven from Qualicum Beach, B.C., has been waiting for his complaint to be addressed since April 2023. His flight was canceled and rescheduled, incurring additional costs for his family. Despite the pilot attributing the cancellation to the airline, WestJet denied Van De Ven’s compensation claim. He criticized the lengthy process and lack of accountability for airlines.
The updated regulations aim to make it more challenging for airlines to reject compensation claims for flight disruptions. Airlines would be required to compensate passengers unless they can prove exceptional circumstances, such as security threats or disruptive passenger behavior, caused the delays or cancellations. The implementation of these updated regulations has been delayed, drawing criticism from consumer advocates like Ian Jack of the Canadian Automobile Association.
While the CTA has improved its complaint resolution process, the agency is still overwhelmed with new complaints annually. The government allocated $75.9 million in 2023 to address the backlog, but this funding is expected to expire soon. Despite some cases resulting in compensation for passengers, airlines have contested the CTA’s decisions in court.
Critics, including the National Airlines Council of Canada, have raised concerns about potential cost implications for travelers due to the proposed updates. Conservative transport critic Dan Albas called for a reevaluation of the current system, criticizing the government’s handling of the issue. Albas suggested that the government has shown little political will to address the problem and may not be prioritizing the transport portfolio effectively.
With ongoing delays in updating the air passenger bill of rights, travelers like Van De Ven are growing increasingly frustrated. Van De Ven urged the government to take action promptly, emphasizing the need for a more efficient and accountable system to protect passengers’ rights and ensure timely compensation.
