Amid travel chaos, regulator unveils new passenger rights rules to fill refund 'gap'

Canada's transport regulator aims to beef up its passenger rights charter, placing more stringent rules around reimbursement by airlines - though some advocates say the rules fall short of frameworks in other countries. New regulations effective Sept. 8 will require carriers to either refund passengers or rebook them, at the traveller's choice, if a flight is cancelled or delayed by three hours or more, the Canadian Transportation Agency said Wednesday. Previously, the passenger rights regime only required refunds for flight disruptions that were within the airline's control, which excluded situations ranging from weather to war to unscheduled mechanical issues. “These regulations will close the gap in the Canadian air passenger protection regime highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that even when cancellations and lengthy delays occur that are outside the airline's control passengers will be protected if the airline cannot complete their itinerary within a reasonable period of time,” agency chair France Pegeot said. The regulations match policies implemented by Air Canada in 2021, said spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick. Thousands of Canadians have faced a slew of long delays and flight cancellations as airlines and security and customs agencies struggle to handle a staffing shortage amid the recent travel surge. The problem is expected to leave summer travellers without protection from the new rules, which don't kick in until fall. The regulations will require airlines to offer a rebooking or refund within 30 days if they cannot provide a new reservation within 48 hours of a flight cancellation or three-hour-plus delay.<br/>