The government announced an increase in the maximum fine for airlines violating the air passenger bill of rights to $1 million. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that financial penalties are a last resort for clear breaches. The regulations, known as the air passenger protection regulations (APPR), were implemented in 2019 to ensure compensation for passenger delays or cancellations under airline control.
Airlines repeatedly violating these regulations face a current maximum fine of $25,000, which could be raised to $250,000 pending changes introduced in the 2023 budget. Ian Jack from the Canadian Automobile Association expressed skepticism about the fine increase unless it is actively enforced.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has been handling a backlog of 95,000 air passenger complaints since the introduction of the bill of rights. The government plans to outsource complaint resolution to a neutral third-party organization to expedite the process.
While Air Canada announced a pilot program to transfer complaints to a third party, Jack emphasized the importance of simplifying regulations to clear the backlog efficiently. The government promised to update the regulations for better clarity and efficiency.
Despite proposed regulations in 2024 and consultations in 2025, their enforcement is pending. MacKinnon emphasized the need to clear the backlog first, but Jack highlighted the importance of implementing new regulations to prevent the backlog from growing further.
