Air Passenger Rights

CAA’s statement on the federal government’s announcement on air passenger refunds

Wing of airplane in the sky
November 8, 2020

OTTAWA, ON –CAA has been pushing since March for access to refunds for Canadians left holding the bag when their flights got cancelled due to COVID-19. Thousands of Canadians were left with multi-thousand-dollar holes in their finances through no fault of their own.

We welcome the government’s commitment today to getting passengers their money back. We will be watching closely to make sure this commitment is honored, and that passengers can get cash refunds quickly. Keep in mind that thousands of people have been out of pocket already for six months or longer. For those who have been hard hit economically by the pandemic, this is especially unfair.

We recognize the carriers are struggling and Canadians need them to survive. In many other jurisdictions governments have stepped in to make sure their carriers remain viable, but also that passengers are not left to finance them. We are pleased the government of Canada has finally agreed to do the same thing.

CAA is one of Canada’s leading sellers of leisure travel, online and through our network of over 100 stores. We are also a not-for-profit member-based organization representing the interests of the Canadian traveller.

About CAA

CAA is a not-for-profit federation of eight Clubs providing over six million Members with exceptional emergency roadside service, complete automotive and travel services, member savings and comprehensive insurance services. CAA also advocates on issues of concern to its members, including road safety, the environment, mobility, infrastructure and consumer protection. CAA was named Canada’s most trusted brand in 2020 by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.

For further comment or to book an interview, please contact:

Kristine D’Arbelles
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
613-796-9404
[email protected]