Air passenger complaints triple in one year to pass 42,000 as backlog grows

MONTREAL –

The variety of air passenger complaints to Canada’s transport regulator is hovering, greater than tripling to 42,000 over the previous 12 months.

The rising backlog means every case now wants greater than a 12 months and a half to deal with, spurring advocates and politicians to query your entire course of.

NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach plans to desk a personal member’s invoice at present that goals to shut loopholes, enhance fines and make compensation computerized for travellers whose flights are delayed or cancelled.

Bachrach and John Lawford, who heads the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, say the passenger rights overhaul promised by the federal authorities for this spring must make compensation computerized within the occasion of great delays or short-notice cancellations.

Last week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra pledged $76 million over three years to chip away on the backlog by hiring 200 extra workers,

He additionally vowed to finish a loophole that lets airways reject compensation claims by citing security as the rationale for a flight disruption.

The criticism backlog shot up after journey chaos erupted over the summer time and once more throughout the winter holidays as flight demand surged and climate refused to co-operate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 20, 2023.