A Canadian parliamentary committee is calling for sweeping changes to Canada’s air passenger rights rules, including better compensation regulations for those facing delayed or cancelled flights, and tougher enforcement of the rules. Canadian Press reports that the recommendations, tabled in Ottawa on Tuesday (April 18), comes after chaotic travel seasons over the summer and winter holidays brought on by soaring demand, labour shortages and winter storms. The House of Commons standing committee on transport offered 21 recommendations, including stronger monetary penalties, smoother processing of compensation claims and automatic payout offers after cancellations, significant delays or denial of boarding. The Globe Read more
Canadian Transportation Agency
A new report by the Auditor General of Canada says nearly two-out-of-three disabled people in Canada still face barriers when it comes to travel. The report, issued this week, says that VIA Rail, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, and the Canadian Transportation Agency have taken steps to improving transportation accessibility by identifying, reducing, and preventing some of the barriers faced by persons with disabilities. “But more needs to be done. In 2019 and 2020, nearly two thirds of the 2.2 million persons with disabilities who travelled on planes, trains, and other federally regulated modes of transportation faced a barrier.” Read more
The number of air passenger complaints to Canada’s transport regulator has more than tripled over the past year, soaring past 42,000 as of this month, Canadian Press reports. Complaints totalled about 13,400 as of March 31, 2022, before skyrocketing to unprecedented highs in the ensuing 12 months, according to Canadian Transportation Agency reports. They hit 36,000 in late January, and rose by another 17 per cent since then. Ottawa recently announced $75.9 million in new funding to help deal with the backlog. Canadian Press reports another $11 million was given to the CTA last year, and that the number of Read more
In a ruling that should allow Flair Airlines to continue selling low-cost flights to Canadians and others, the Trudeau government has ruled that Flair qualifies as a Canadian airline. The Canadian Transportation Agency issued a statement on its website today, stating that the agency “issued its final determination and found that Flair is Canadian.” “It’s a fantastic day for team Flair,” president and CEO Stephen Jones said at a press conference today. “‘The question has been answered.” Global News reports that Jones said the Edmonton-based company “never doubted” that it was Canadian and the decision by the CTA is very clear: Read more
Flair Airlines has been making a ton of noise in the Canadian travel marketplace. We should find out tomorrow if that’s going to continue. Officials from the Edmonton-based airline on Wednesday (June 1) are expected to announce the results of a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) investigation on whether it may continue to fly in Canada. The Canadian government has been looking into allegations that Flair didn’t meet the conditions to qualify as being Canadian owned. Ottawa says at least 51 per cent of a company’s voting interests must be owned and controlled by Canadians and no more than 25 per cent Read more
