OTTAWA – Air passengers whose flights are cancelled due to the ongoing strike should never accept a refund from Air Canada, according to experts. Gabor Lukacs, President of Air Passenger Rights, stated that a refund is merely a way for the airline to avoid its obligation to ensure the passenger reaches their destination on another flight.
Lukacs said that the Canadian Transportation Agency’s guidelines are clear on the procedures to be followed when a booked flight is cancelled. According to these regulations, Air Canada is required to cover the cost of a new ticket on another airline.
Even if the strike is for reasons outside the airline’s control, the Canada Air Passenger Protection Regulations mandate that passengers must be rebooked on the next available flight. He added that regardless of the cost, the airline is obligated to get passengers to their destination on the next available flight.
