The CBC reports that the backlog of complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency related to delayed or cancelled flights or lost luggage has ballooned to more than 30,000 — up from 18,000 this summer — but the number may have peaked.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) — a quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator tasked with settling disputes between airlines and customers — has been dealing with a massive number of air passenger complaints since new regulations came into force in 2019 that require an airline to compensate passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled for a reason that is within the airline’s control, the CBC said.
This past summer was marked by a massive number of delayed and cancelled flights as Canadians and Americans returned to flying in a major way. For a short time, some Canadian airports were reporting that as many as one-half of their flights were being delayed, and a large number cancelled.
For Monday, Nov. 27, 2022, the website FlightAware.com reported that 31% of Toronto Pearson flights and 22% of those at Montreal Trudeau Airport were delayed (Flight Aware counts a flight as delayed if it leaves more than 15 minutes after its scheduled departure). For Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2022, the site was showing that 11% of flights have been cancelled at Vancouver International as of 6 a.m. local time. Vancouver is expected to receive a large amount of snow on Tuesday.
Potential new routes for Porter Airlines.
PORTER DESTINATION ANNOUNCEMENT LOOMING?
Toronto-based Porter Airlines earlier this year announced it was purchasing several dozen new Embraer jets, and that it would be adding long-distance flights to destinations in North America and the Caribbean. The airline has a map on its website that shows potential new landing spots in California, Arizona, southern Florida and the Bahamas, as well as Calgary and Vancouver.
No announcement has been made, but the Porter Airlines Instagram account is hinting that news could come soon.
The airline has been testing its new planes, and company officials earlier this year said they expected the jets to be in service in the last part of 2022. There’s still time for that to happen, but not a lot.
The Queen Mary 2 in New York Harbor. CUNARD PHOTO
CUNARD LINE ANNOUNCES 2024-2025 VOYAGES
Luxury cruise line Cunard announces itineraries from April 2024 through January 2025, offering over 190 new voyages fleet wide, including Queen Anne’s maiden season.
Featuring in-depth itineraries in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia, and spectacular voyages through the incomparable Norwegian Fjords, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, and flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 will call at 133 destinations in 45 countries, including a maiden call for the fleet in Nordfjordeid, Norway.
“Summertime evokes European glamour aboard Cunard ships,” said Matt Gleaves, Cunard’s VP of Commercial Development, North America. “Whether it’s sailing the waters of the Med or navigating through the Greek Isles, guests will see the world in style and comfort. Queen Anne brings even more opportunities to explore remote waterways, iconic cities, and of course all the pleasures that one would expect aboard our new Cunard Queen.”
Cunard’s highly anticipated new ship Queen Anne will sail her maiden season in the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia, British Isles, and the Mediterranean, with voyages ranging from two to 19 nights. She will make 62 maiden calls in coveted destinations including Reykjavik, Gibraltar, Rotterdam, Dubrovnik, Malaga, Oslo and more. Queen Anne will offer six overnight calls and 14 late evening departures, giving guests time to explore each city to the fullest.
