The Canadian
government has proposed legislation that would obligate airlines to compensate
customers when a major service disruption occurs.
Omar Alghabra, Canada's transport minister, unveiled the proposed legislation, which would be a part of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) and cover extreme weather conditions or if the airline could show it wasn't to blame for the disruption.
"This means there will be no
more loopholes where airlines can claim a disruption is caused by something
outside of their control or a security reason when it is not.
"It will no longer be the
passenger who will have to prove that he or she is entitled to compensation. It
will now be the airline that will need to prove that it does not have to pay
for it," he said
"Protecting the rights of
air passengers is a priority of the Government of Canada, and the government
will continue to ensure that travelers’ rights are respected by airlines when
air travel does not go according to plan.
"It is clear that a stronger
and simpler system is needed to increase air carriers’ accountability and
transparency, reduce the number of incidents referred to the agency, and
streamline the agency’s processes for addressing travel complaints,"
stated Alghabra.
"The proposed amendments
would significantly enhance our air passenger rights regime to ensure travelers
get the services and treatment they pay for and deserve."
To properly handle passengers during significant delays, the Canadian government is considering modifications to the Civil Aviation Act (CAA). These adjustments will help standardize how passengers are handled during significant interruptions and may happen as early as the end of August. According to the law, as it stands in New Zealand, customers are entitled to compensation up to 10 times the price of their ticket or the actual cost of the delay, whichever is less. Travelers should follow some important instructions if their flight is delayed or canceled due to inclement weather.
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