'Flight Rights' to offer consumer protection for air travellers

Airlines will be obligated to provide stranded travellers meal and hotel vouchers, though they won't be held responsible for inclement weather, under a federal consumer protection program announced Thursday.

Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced the program, billed Flight Rights Canada, at an Ottawa news conference. In June, a private member's bill calling for an airline passenger bill of rights received unanimous support in the House of Commons.

Under the program, airlines must ensure passengers are aware of delays and schedule changes, find passengers seats or refund tickets for over-booked or cancelled flights, provide meal vouchers for delays exceeding four hours and hotel accommodations for delays of more than eight hours.

Airlines must also provide drinks and snacks for passengers on planes stranded on the runways and if the delay runs longer than 90 minutes, travellers must be given the option to disembark.

The program also says airlines must deliver delayed luggage to travellers and provide overnight kits.

However, the program notes the airlines are not responsible for acts of nature, particularly inclement weather.

The announcement follows the collapse of Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines at the end of August. Thousands of travellers were left stranded in Canada and Britain as the discount carrier began bankruptcy proceedings.