The federal government has announced it will increase the maximum fine that can be levied against airlines for repeated violations of the air passenger bill of rights from $250,000 to $1 million.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the changes at a news conference in Ottawa Friday morning, adding that under upcoming legislation, airlines will be required to pay out compensation to passengers within 30 days.
“No excuses,” MacKinnon said.
Canada’s air passenger protection regulations (APPR) came into force in 2019 and require airlines to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations that are within their control.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is tasked with settling disputes between airlines and customers. The agency has been dealing with a large backlog of air passenger complaints, with roughly 100,000 complaints still awaiting resolution, MacKinnon said.
MacKinnon stated that the government is working to eliminate the backlog of airline complaints by “engaging a neutral, third-party dispute resolution organization to apply private sector know-how and lessons learned.”
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“In addition to processing pending claims, we will establish a more effective regulatory framework. This will make the rules clearer so that passengers are compensated fairly and more quickly when their flight does not go as planned. We will also remove the restriction that prevents travellers from speaking freely about decisions made regarding their complaints,” he said.
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“Decisions by the Canadian Transportation Agency, which oversees the complaints process, can take years. This is not acceptable. Canadians deserve better. It must be fixed,” MacKinnon said.
The announcement comes after the federal government revealed in its spring economic outlook that it is considering inviting private investment into Canada’s airports.
MacKinnon told reporters on Wednesday that the government was talking with airport authorities regarding whether the government was considering privatizing airports and, if so, how many.
“We’re in the early stages of a process with airport authorities and other partners to determine the best way forward. The ultimate goal, of course, is to improve the passenger experience, to improve the efficiency of our air transport system,” MacKinnon said.
More to come.
Complete joke of an announcement. When the airline does delay or cancel for NO reason, you CANNOT REACH ANYBODY ON THE SO CALLED COMPLAINT LINE OR ANYONE IN THE COMPLAINT SYSTEM, COMPANY OR OTHERWISE. MAKE THE FINE 1 BILLION, MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. THE COMPLAINT IS NOT HEARD.
I’ll believe it when I see it
“Are within their control” is they key words. Just indicate it is not within control to avoid paying. Oh never mind they are already doing this
All well and good, IF the new regulations are actually enforced. I have a 3 year old claim pending regarding a nine hour delay, within Canada!
Yet another failed policy by the Trudeau /Carney regime. What total incompetence
Great job, multiple Liberal bailouts then they just decided that taxpayers are paying all the bills. Pay taxes in Canada your giving money to Air bailout Canada for zero services.
Fine them you just add to the liberal created national debt.
It doesn’t matter how high the fines go, if there is no enforcement it is moot. The Liberals are terrible on enforcing passengers rights.
Wow they really don’t want any Canadian airlines in Canada do they?
The landing fees are outrageous in Canada, in the US the airlines don’t pay them but airlines are responsible for them here.
Where are the fines to the airport authorities and baggage handlers who delay everything?
Air service sucks don’t get me wrong but there is lots of blame to go around, not just from the airlines
Government needs to look into the very recent Air Canada policy of when checking in online and also when using airport checkin terminals you are required to agree to allow A.C. to debit your card for luggage even though you have only a personal bag. There is no by-passing it. You must go to the counter.
We can always hope for improvement unfortunately we have to recall the current situation is a direct result of past liberal legislation.
This means nothing if it not enforced More big talk from the government but nothing ever changes were the airlines are concerned
Why dint they do this with grocerie trains
It wouldn’t surprise me if most of the complaints were from liberals that bit their tongue while looking at an airplane.