To gain revenue of about $300 million, the federal government will collect 33 percent more in safety fees from airline travellers. The rise in fees is part of the 2023 budget plan, and it includes an increase from $15 to $20 on domestic flights and $26 to $34 on international flights, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. While…

The number of air passenger complaints to Canada’s transport regulator is soaring, more than tripling to 42,000 over the past year. The growing backlog means each case now needs more than a year and a half to handle, spurring advocates and politicians to question the entire process. NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach plans to table…

A growing number of Canadians are dissatisfied with the time it takes to resolve air passenger complaints, according to four internal surveys conducted by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). The CTA is responsible for enforcing rules that require an airline to compensate passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled for a reason within the airline’s control….

The airline gurus are predicting a boom in transatlantic travel this summer. They’re also saying that airfares will be higher than pre-pandemic—maybe up to 30 percent. And last but not least, airports will remain swamped with travelers, with long lines everywhere. I can’t disagree. But you may well be going, anyhow, so you need to…

As part of the upcoming must-do bill in Congress to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration Agency, a partnership of the leading consumer advocacy organizations has given Congress a list of consumer protections that should be included. It’s a long list, but there’s nothing in it that isn’t both reasonable and necessary. As we point out—I’m…

Many of us consumer advocates were delighted to hear President Biden’s comment on junk fees “I’ve directed my administration to reduce or eliminate them.” The catch with the overall objective is that what people consider junk fees is not a homogenous set—and that no single approach will solve all junk fee problems. Some are outright…

By Kyle Arnold From The Dallas Morning News Early January saw Southwest Airlines cutting two-thirds of its flights following an operational meltdown stemming from an arctic storm. A canceled flight often leaves passengers in a conundrum over whether to request a refund or sit and wait for the airline to put them on the next…

Even though we saw some good deals and nice opportunities, given the way it ended, overall 2022 was a year to forget for airlines and their customers. In some ways, 2023 is bound to be an improvement — another massive airline meltdown is a bit less likely. But the crosscurrents of history will continue to…

Commentary I know the world is awash with conflict, anxiety, mad leaders, bad leaders, economic turmoil—huge crises of every sort. As Hamlet’s Claudius said of sorrows, we may say of the desperate troubles of our time: they come not single spies, but in battalions. Most of these are out of the range of most people…

Unions representing airport security screeners say turnover for new employees is high despite efforts to hire more workers, with as few as one in three recent hires still on the job in some regions. Major delays and flight cancellations at airports across Canada earlier this year drew scrutiny from passengers and politicians alike. Among other…