Transport Canada says “no traveller should have to sleep on the floor of an airport or feel unsafe as a result of a flight that is delayed or cancelled. This,” the agency adds, “is unacceptable.”

To that end, Transport Canada, in an update ascribed to the ministers of transport, tourism, health, and public safety, is encouraging travellers to know their rights when travelling, which are covered under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Program, and to document any incidents that occur during the journey in the event that they are eligible for compensation.

Passenger rights in Canada include compensation requirements for all flight incidents that are considered within an air carrier’s control, including flights delayed or cancelled as a result of crew shortages.

Additionally, notes Transport Canada, as of Sept. 8, amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations will come into force to ensure passengers are compensated for flight delays, cancellations, and other incidents that may be out of an air carrier’s control.

“This will ensure Canadian travellers are protected in nearly every circumstance,” says the update, which adds, “Travellers have rights, and these must be respected by airlines and airports through each step of the travelling experience.”

Meanwhile, the agency issued the following data for the week of Aug. 1 to 7:

Flight completions: 97% of flights planned for Canada’s top four airports were not cancelled, compared to 88% over the same period in July.

On-time performance: Over 85% of flights from the top four airports left on time, or within one hour of their scheduled departure. This is an improvement from under 75% for the first week of July.

Passenger security screening wait times: 88% of passengers at the four largest airports were screened within 15 minutes by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), an improvement from 84% the previous week (July 25-31).

• Toronto Pearson International Airport: 88%
• Vancouver International Airport: 84%
• Montréal-Trudeau International Airport: 87%
• Calgary International Airport: 89%

Holding of aircraft at YYZ: The number of aircraft being held on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson International Airport has decreased dramatically since early May – over the last week of July, only 1%, or 19 aircraft, were held on the tarmac, as compared to the peak of 373 the week of May 23-29, 2022.