‘No more loopholes’: Changes to air passenger rights are ‘significant,’ minister says
Global News
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra laid out reforms to the Liberals' passenger rights charter following chaotic travel seasons over the summer and winter holidays.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says airlines’ use of loopholes around traveller compensation “left government with no choice” but to strengthen passenger rights rules.
Alghabra says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in the Liberals’ passenger rights charter, as carriers frequently cited safety as the reason for last-minute cancellations and delays, relieving them of their obligation to pay compensation to customers.
On Monday, the federal minister laid out reforms that put the onus on airlines to show a flight disruption was caused by safety concerns or reasons outside their control.
“Today, I’m announcing that we are making significant changes to the air passenger rights,” Alghabra said Monday. “There will be no more loopholes where airlines can claim a disruption is caused by something outside of their control.”
Tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday, the amendments also ratchet up the maximum penalty for carrier violations to $250,000 — a tenfold increase — and put the regulatory cost of complaints on carriers.
The National Airlines Council of Canada, an industry group representing four of the country’s biggest carriers, says the cost of tougher passenger protections could trickle down to travellers by way of pricier fares.
NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach says the proposed law still leaves the so-called safety loophole intact and falls short of European passenger rights standards.
— With files from Global News
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