Officials accused of undermining plan to make airlines fund passenger-complaints system

Independent.co reports Canadian officials and ministers have allegedly tried to delay and undermine a plan to force airlines to pay for the country’s air passenger complaints system after parliament directed the Canadian Transportation Agency in 2023 to introduce a cost-recovery fee.

Almost 100,000 people are waiting for compensation, the backlog has reached more than 88,000, and Canadian taxpayers currently cover about $30 million in processing complaints. CBC Go Public reported that documents show correspondence between the CTA and multiple transport ministers.

One document shows then-transport minister Anita Anand requested the CTA delay the fee, writing, "Given that the agency has not consulted with me, I respectfully request that you refrain from implementing any decision on the fee until you have adequately done so." Ministry officials also emailed the CTA to express concern.

Key Topics

Politics, Canadian Transportation Agency, Anita Anand, Pablo Rodriguez, Cost-recovery Fee, Air Passenger Complaints