Times Colonist

Ottawa urges airlines to end bumping before law takes hold

- ROSS MAROWITS

MONTREAL — The federal transport minister is urging the country’s airlines to live up to the spirit of its passenger bill of rights legislatio­n, even before it comes into force as expected next year.

Marc Garneau called on airline executives at a closed-door meeting Friday to ensure children can be seated next to a parent at no extra charge and voluntaril­y stop removing passengers from full flights against their will.

“I sense a very constructi­ve approach from the point of view of the industry,” he said after the meeting that attracted 30 airline, airport and tourism officials.

The bill introduced this week is part of a package of amendments to the Canada Transporta­tion Act that also raises the cap on foreign ownership in airlines and requires railways to install voice and video recorders in locomotive­s.

The new airline rules would also set minimum levels of compensati­on for people who voluntaril­y agree to be bumped from a flight and force airlines to establish clear standards of treatment and compensati­on for circumstan­ces such as lost or damaged luggage, delays while sitting on the tarmac and other nonweather related issues.

Garneau urged the travel industry to get ready for the changes by preparing to update their websites, technologi­es and internal policies.

Air Canada said it told the minister that it already complies “in large measure to his requests for example regarding children seat assignment­s,” but didn’t specifical­ly say if it will alter its bumping policies.

“We are looking forward to participat­ing in the consultati­on process relating to the new regulation­s over the coming months,” said Air Canada spokeswoma­n Isabelle Arthur.

WestJet, which does not deliberate­ly overbook its flights, said it is reviewing its policies on child seating and expects to announce details soon.

Canadian Automobile Associatio­n spokesman Ian Jack said two airline executives, whom he declined to identify, vowed to quickly stop forcing parents to pay fees for children’s seating.

“I thought we saw some early fruit today,” he said, adding that the legislatio­n has caused airlines to begin altering their practices.

Jack said the battle will soon turn to the Canadian Transporta­tion Agency, which will work to set the rules, including minimum levels of compensati­on and financial penalties for airlines that don’t comply.

While the CTA has been criticized for not enforcing existing rules, Garneau insisted that it will under the new model. “We are not putting passenger rights in place with compensati­ons without also ensuring that they will also be enforceabl­e,” he said.

“So people who talk about the past can do so, but I’m focused on the future and what will be in place in 2018.”

The associatio­n representi­ng Canada’s airports said it urged Garneau to improve security screening, a common source of passenger complaints.

 ??  ?? A traveller waits for baggage at the Ottawa airport.
A traveller waits for baggage at the Ottawa airport.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada