Canada: New protections for air travellers come into force this week — but they don't go far enough, critics say

New regulations on refunds for air passengers are coming into force this week, but consumer advocates and airlines are raising concerns about the rules. Since 2019, federal rules have required airlines to compensate passengers for delayed or cancelled flights when those disruptions happen for reasons the airlines themselves can control. Starting Sept. 8, airlines will have to refund passengers for cancellations and lengthy delays if passengers can't be rebooked on another available flight within 48 hours — even when those cancellations or delays are not the fault of the airlines themselves. "It's a big deal. It's a win for passengers," said Tom Oommen, DG of the analysis and outreach branch at the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), a quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator tasked with enforcing the regulations and settling disputes between airlines and customers. Oommen said a gap in the regulations was exposed when airlines began cancelling flights and denying refunds to passengers during the onset of the pandemic. He said the expanded rules also cover other issues, such as weather delays and labour disputes. But one consumer advocate is less optimistic about the new rules. Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer with the Quebec-based advocacy group Option consommateurs, said the 48-hour window still leaves a gap for passengers who may be travelling for short periods of time.<br/>