The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) today announced that the Regulations Amending the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which provide additional refund requirements, are now in force.
Until now, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations only required refunds to be provided for flight disruptions within the control of airlines.
The new requirements now require airlines to provide passengers with either a refund or rebooking, at the passenger’s choice, when there is a flight cancellation, or a lengthy delay, due to a situation outside the airline’s control that prevents it from ensuring that passengers complete their itinerary within a reasonable time. They apply to all flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights.
The new regulatory requirements:
· Require airlines to provide a passenger affected by a cancellation or a lengthy delay due to a situation outside the airline’s control with a confirmed reservation on the next available flight that is operated by them or a partner airline, leaving within 48 hours of the departure time indicated on the passenger’s original ticket. If the airline cannot provide a confirmed reservation within this 48-hour period, it is required to provide, at the passenger’s choice, a refund or rebooking;
· Identify what costs must be refunded (unused portion of the ticket, which includes any unused add-on services paid for);
· Identify the method to be used for refunds (same as the original payment, e.g., a return on the person’s credit card);
· Require airlines to provide a refund within 30 days.
The new regulations apply to flight disruptions that occur as of September 8, 2022.
