CTA to Lowering the Hammer . . .

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most violations...... WestJet and Flair Largest fine to Sunwing   Reality will of course result in airfares being increased to deal with the additional fines.     Canada's major airlines hit with fines for hundreds of violations following recent travel chaos Since Air Passenger Protection Regulations came into effect in 2019, tens of thousands of air passengers have complained the airlines aren't playing by the rules. (David Richard/CBC) The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has issued fines to Canada's major airlines for hundreds of violations related to mass flight delays and cancellations last summer and in December.  The violations frequently concern failure to update passengers during flight disruptions or promptly address their compensation claims.  Some passengers and industry experts argue the fines, which typically range between $2,500 and $39,000, aren't much of a deterrent for misbehaving airlines.  "The fines are low," said Ian Jack, a spokesperson for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a non-profit travel agency. "We have yet to see the regulator really bring out a big stick on anything." The CTA, Canada's transport regulator, is tasked with enforcing federal Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Since the regulations came into effect in 2019, the agency has been flooded with tens of thousands of complaints that the airlines aren't playing by the rules.  The CTA doled out the biggest fine — $126,000 — to Sunwing for 36 violations for failing to keep passengers updated during flight delays in December.  That month, a winter storm forced the airline to cancel 67 flights, disrupting plans for thousands of holiday travellers.  According to the CTA, Flair Airlines and WestJet committed the most violations related to flight disruptions. WestJet is set to purchase Sunwing in the coming weeks in a merger deal.

Read the full story here. Federal government announces $75.9 million to tackle air passenger complaints backlog. Surveys show Canadians increasingly frustrated by lengthy air passenger complaint process.