(Reuters) – All airlines flying in and out of Canada will be required to compensate travelers for incidents like denied boarding or lost luggage, starting on July 15, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said at Pearson International Airport outside Toronto on Friday.
The passenger bill of rights, first announced two years ago, will be phased in, with more complex requirements related to flight delays and cancellations to come into force on Dec. 15, Garneau said, following complaints from airlines that they would have difficulty meeting the July deadline.
Airlines have come under increased scrutiny from regulators and the public for incidents such as lost luggage and overbooking, after a 2017 video of a passenger being dragged off a United Airlines flight in Chicago went viral, generating public outrage.
“Today marks a milestone for air travel in Canada,” added Scott Streiner, chief executive of the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which prepared the final rules this year.
