Feds urge airlines to end bumping of passengers before law takes effect
MONTREAL — The federal transport minister is urging the country’s airlines to live up to the spirit of its passenger bill of rights legislation, even before it comes into force as expected next year.
Marc Garneau called on airline executives at a closed-door meeting Friday to ensure children can be seated next to a parent at no extra charge and voluntarily stop removing passengers from full flights against their will.
“I sense a very constructive approach from the point of view of the industry,” he said after the meeting that attracted almost 30 airline, airport and tourism officials.
The bill introduced this week is part of a package of amendments to the Canada Transportation Act that also raises the cap on foreign ownership in airlines and requires railways to install voice and video recorders in locomotives.