Air Canada has been ordered to pay more than $500 each to the spouses of two passengers whose flight was cancelled, according to a ruling by the British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal.
The incident occurred in December 2019, when the two passengers were scheduled to fly from Vancouver to Palm Springs, California. However, their flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues with the aircraft.
The passengers, who were travelling with their spouses, filed a complaint with the tribunal, seeking compensation for the inconvenience and expenses incurred as a result of the cancelled flight.
In its ruling, the tribunal noted that Air Canada had failed to provide the passengers with a reasonable explanation for the cancellation and had not offered any alternative flights or accommodations. As a result, the tribunal found that the airline had breached its contract with the passengers and was liable for the damages caused.
The tribunal awarded each spouse $500 for the inconvenience and expenses they had incurred, in addition to the cost of their original tickets.
This ruling serves as a reminder to airlines that they have a responsibility to provide reasonable explanations and alternatives to passengers when flights are cancelled. It also highlights the importance of upholding contractual agreements and providing adequate compensation for any breaches.
Air Canada has not yet commented on the ruling.
