Passenger protections: Supreme Court rejects challenge [Video]

A consortium of airlines has failed in its challenge to overturn air passenger protection rules that Canada implemented in 2019.

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has ruled that airlines that fly in and out of Canada can be required to provide passengers with standardized compensation on some international flights for delays within their control.

Several global airlines and associations challenged the additional passenger protections on the grounds that the regulations conflicted with the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that Canada signed in 2001.

Earlier this year, the airlines argued in their appeal that the Montreal Convention already provided passengers with an avenue to seek damages.

The SCC disagreed and said there was “no conflict” between the Canada Transportation Act and the Montreal Convention.

“This is a victory for consumers,” said John Lawford of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre which was an intervener in the SCC case.

“The Supreme Court …