Canadians might be soon waiting longer to have their air travel complaints heard | CBC News

"The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) a quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator tasked with settling disputes between airlines and customers has been dealing with a backlog of air passenger complaints since the air passenger bill of rights was introduced in 2019. Those regulations require an airline to compensate passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled for a reason that is within the airline's control."

"In 2023, the federal government earmarked nearly $76 million for the CTA to clear the backlog, but that temporary funding is set to expire this year. The backlog of complaints has more than doubled since the government set that money aside. On the day the funding was announced, the backlog was estimated to be 42,000 complaints. The CTA told CBC News that it now sits at roughly 95,000 complaints."

"The CTA is currently trending towards its fourth straight year receiving over 40,000 complaints, and in January 2026, it received its highest ever monthly total of complaints at 5,685. Data from the agency's annual report indicates it has gone from processing roughly 15,000 complaints (or fewer) per year to settling more than 30,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year."

The Canadian Transportation Agency faces a critical funding decision as temporary federal support expires this year. Since 2019, the CTA has managed complaints under air passenger bill of rights regulations requiring airline compensation for controllable flight delays or cancellations. A $76 million allocation in 2023 aimed to clear the backlog, but complaints have surged from 42,000 to approximately 95,000. The CTA reports increased efficiency, processing over 30,000 complaints annually compared to 15,000 previously, with January 2026 marking the highest monthly total at 5,685 complaints. Without funding renewal, Canadian passengers face extended wait times for complaint resolution.

Read at www.cbc.ca