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Westjet

Thursday March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 16, 2023

Transport Minister pledges to close passenger compensation loophole used by airlines

January 13, 2023

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Tuesday the federal government will close a loophole that allows airlines to deny customers compensation for cancelled flights.

The reform will come as part of an overhaul of passenger rights to be tabled in Parliament this spring, he said at a news conference.

Asked whether he would end the exemption that lets carriers reject compensation claims by citing safety issues, Alghabra answered in the affirmative.

“The short answer is yes. We are working on strengthening and clarifying the rules to ensure that we make a distinction,” he said.

“Obviously we don’t want planes to fly when it’s unsafe to do so. But there are certain things that are within the control of the airlines, and we need to have clearer rules that puts the responsibility on the airlines when it’s their responsibility.”

Alghabra’s pledge came during a news conference at Toronto’s Pearson airport Tuesday morning, where he promised an additional$75.9 million over three years to reduce the backlog of complaints at the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

May 25, 2022

The money will allow the transport regulator to hire 200 more employees who can chip away at the 42,000 complaints currently filed there, he said.

“The backlog is huge.”

The announcement comes after the government topped up the agency’s funding by $11 million last year – shortly before travel chaos erupted over the summer as flight demand surged, prompting another wave of complaints.

Gabor Lukacs, president of the Air Passenger Rights advocacy group, expressed skepticism that the new cash will make a big dent in the backlog.

“The government is throwing good money after bad,” he said. “It will not improve lack of enforcement on its own.”

Alghabra hinted at other changes upcoming in a revamped passenger rights charter, including potential reforms to the regulator’s role as an investigative and enforcement body.

“We are looking at strengthening the rules, as I said, and perhaps looking at increasing the authorities that the CTA has. But I leave it up to the CTA to exercise its judgment and when and how to impose these fines,” Alghabra told reporters.

The agency has a dual mandate as a tribunal handling complaints and a regulatory authority, though advocates say it has not gone far enough to punish violations under the latter. (The Globe & Mail) 

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-05, Air Canada, airline, airport, bureaucracy, Canada, complaints, hangar, Omar Alghabra, passenger, travel, Westjet

Thursday July 31, 2014

July 30, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

Thursday July 31, 2014Illustration by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Story by Bill Dunphy, Thursday July 31, 2014

Hamilton airport strikes a sour note with city musicians

An appeal for musicians to play free concerts at the John C. Munro International Airport terminal during “customer appreciation days” next month has left some city musicians feeling underappreciated.

Michael Keire, a Hamilton musician and owner of Threshold Recording Studio, received the invitation last week.

“I wanted to reach out because we are looking for some local talent to perform at an upcoming Passenger Appreciation event,” the emailed invitation read. “I was wondering if you might be willing to pass it along to any clients or colleagues you think could be interested in participating …” it continued.

It was only when Keire read the attachment, titled “Performance Opportunity,” that he realized the airport was looking for musicians to perform for free, on the grounds that they would benefit from “the exposure.”

Artists seeking to grab one of 15 slots spread over five days are required to bring their own equipment and instruments and play sets ranging from 45 to 90 minutes long.

“Monetary compensation will not be provided for performers,” the invitation read.

His immediate reaction was swift and angry — he contacted the airport and received a simple apology, saying they only sought to showcase Hamilton’s homegrown talent.

Keire posted the exchange on social media and the reaction there was also swift and angry.

One musician pointed out that “This is CANADA!!! We can die from exposure here.”

Another noted that the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas features a Music in the Air program with five stages showcasing the city of Austin’s considerable talent — and all performers are paid.

In an interview, Keire said the airport marketers were seeking to cash in on the city’s growing musical reputation.

“They’re kind of playing on the back of the branding the city has been working on — only they don’t want to pay for it.”

Keire dismisses the “talent showcase” benefit as “ridiculous. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: art, Editorial Cartoon, Hamilton, Hamilton International Airport, musician, snacks, Westjet

Thursday April 3, 2003

April 3, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 3, 2003

No Tears Shed for Air Canada

Graeme’s Gallery 2003

No tears were shed by travel agents when Air Canada flew into bankruptcy protection yesterday. 

Despite a vast monopoly, Air Canada could not overcome its own bad management and bad customer relations, they said. 

“It’s their own doing,” said travel agent Marius Enthoven of Travel Headquarters in Vancouver. “I don’t think they’ve listened to the traveller.” 

Enthoven blamed the airline’s complex pricing of tickets, gouging of the business traveller and overpriced one-way fares. 

“You phone Air Canada and you get nothing but bureaucracy,” he said of its customer service. “They are unpleasant. They love to quote rules at you and they are not willing to do anything for you. 

“They have forgotten that the customer who travels in that seat, and who makes a phone call, may be a nuisance, may ask stupid questions, but they pay their salaries.” (CP)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: Air Canada, airline, Canada, circling, Dead, death, vultures, Westjet

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