Air Canada disputes the DOT’s authority because, a spokesman said in an email, “both the Enforcement Notice and the Department’s COVID-19 Refund FAQs … Until recently, Air Canada had been giving full refunds to customers whose flights had been cancelled due to COVID-19. Air Canada canceled Halperin’s May 21 flight from Orlando, Fla., (his home airport) to Montreal. "I think it's a little bit of gamesmanship that's being played by Air Canada," Gradek said. Canada’s air passenger protection regulations require airlines to ensure customers can complete their trips when flights are cancelled for reasons outside the airlines’ control, but they do not mandate refunds in such circumstances. An Air Canada flight from Mexico City arrives at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, March 20, 2020. Dezember 2020 worden, können ohne Umbuchungsgebühr bis 31. Coronavirus Outbreak. It did not respond to questions on Wednesday on how many complaints have been filed. The government has imposed conditions on bailing out air carriers that require them to issue refunds, maintain air connections throughout Canada and honour any orders placed with Canadian aerospace companies. Lesosky is also the president of the union's airline division, which represents 15,000 flight attendants at other airlines, including Air Transat, Sunwing and WestJet. Air Canada has stated on their website that while airline cancellations "can lead to a refund" under normal circumstances, cancellations caused by COVID-19 are "beyond our control." 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Publishing date: May 14, 2020 • January 10, 2021 • 4 minute read • 32 Comments. In a media statement, the airline said it received a substantial amount for the wage subsidy because it employs so many people, and "as much as 95 per cent of our revenue disappearing virtually overnight, which is why the government is now looking at specific sectoral support for our industry, just as governments around the world have already done for their airlines.". Air Canada tapped into the most government support during COVID-19 out of all publicly traded companies in Canada that have so far disclosed their finances to stakeholders, a CBC News investigation found. In contrast, Air Canada is offering customers who flew out of Europe a refund for non-refundable tickets after "extensive discussions" with European Union members. Refund Services. The issue is particularly charged in the U.S. given the federal government’s US$50-billion bailout for major airlines. Flüge, die bis 30. Note: This article has been updated to clarify the Air Passenger Rights commentary on CTA decisions allowing refunds and the federal court challenge to the CTA’s statement on vouchers. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Gradek argues that Air Canada has the money to pay the refunds but is using it as a bargaining chip in bailout negotiations with the federal government. This story has been updated from a previous version that incorrectly referred to Air Canada's 2019 revenue as earnings. The airline reported total revenues of $757 million in the third quarter; that represents an 86 per cent drop of $4.7 billion from its revenues in the same time period in 2019. "They're holding us as people with outstanding vouchers or refunds hostage unless we tell them, 'Well, you give me a dollar in my left hand and I'll give you a dollar back in my right hand to pay for it,'" he said. More than 100,000 Canadians have joined petitions calling for government action on refunds, and several class-action lawsuits have been filed against airlines. Lukacs noted that most flights have been cancelled for economic reasons during this pandemic, not because of specific government orders. OTTAWA -- If you’re holding on to an Air Canada voucher because of a flight cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be one step closer … 27 replies to this topic. "Air Canada does have the cash," he said, pointing to the airline's $8 billion in unrestricted liquidity as of September. Air Canada is revising its cancellation policy amid mounting customer frustration, offering travellers the option of a voucher with no expiry date or discount Aeroplan points if the airline cancels their flight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It takes a while to do that refunding because there are quite a few passengers, but once the refund agreement is signed — a very specific undertaking by both sides — then they'll be in a position to receive our assistance as they begin the refunding process," Garneau said. In total, the federal government spent $1.4 billion helping Canadian airlines pay up to 75 per cent of employee wages during the pandemic, according to the federal government's fall economic update, released last week. Regardless, he argues that passengers are entitled to refunds whether the cancellation is within the airlines’ control or not based on common law. WATCH | Transport Minister Marc Garneau on sectoral aid for airlines: Air Canada customer Calvin Hill said he feels like a "hostage.". “The department is asking all airlines to revisit their customer service policies and ensure they are as flexible and considerate as possible to the needs of passengers who face financial hardship during this time,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said in a statement. New summer schedule includes nearly 100 destinations in Canada, the U.S. and worldwide; Options for new, fully-transferable voucher or Aeroplan Miles with 65% bonus starting June 1 mean more choices and flexibility for rebooking flights should travel plans change ; Air Canada CleanCare+ biosecurity program offers greater protection from COVID-19 during all stages of the journey Here's how to get your money back. In late April, the Canadian Transportation Agency said the vouchers could be a “reasonable approach in the extraordinary circumstances.”. Air Canada Travel Voucher – Transfer the remaining value of all tickets in a booking and associated services to an Air Canada Travel Voucher. Breadcrumb Trail Links. The Calgary-based energy giant disclosed it received $120 million from CEWS. In-depth reporting on the innovation economy from The Logic, brought to you in partnership with the Financial Post. For more information about the Air Canada Travel Voucher, please click here. The U.S. and some European countries have given billions in financial aid to airlines. Scott Streiner, chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency, testified in front of MPs last week that there is a gap in Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations that no one saw coming. Depending on the airline, time may be running out to use flight vouchers from trips canceled due to COVID-19. Air Canada. The leadership of Air Canada and the GTAA in supporting COVID-19 research serves as a model for other organizations looking to make evidence-based decisions." Download in PDF format (PDF format, 220 KB, 1 page) Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada.