A small claims court has ordered Air Canada to compensate a couple of $10,000 after an overbooked aircraft led them to multiple Canadian airports with the promise of a replacement trip that never materialized, ruining a long-planned holiday.

The Small Claims Court of Yukon issued a stinging verdict concluding that the airline treated the couple shamefully “. Justice Katherine L. McLeod stated that Air Canada violated the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) several times and subjected the couple to a “horrendous experience.”

The APPR outlines airlines’ obligations to passengers during flight cancellations, delays, and luggage damage.

The couple, who reside in Yukon, had saved for three years to take their first holiday without their children. In February 2023, they planned to take time off work and provide child care for their three children during their nine-day stay at a resort in Cuba.

According to the judicial decision, they discovered it had been overbooked when they landed in Toronto for their Air Canada flight to Cuba.

Passengers were informed that if they agreed to give up their seats, they would be reimbursed and booked on an American Airlines aircraft departing later that day, which may eventually take them to Cuba.

Three Day Nightmare

The plaintiffs accepted the offer but learnt hours later that the flight was inaccessible without explanation.

As outlined in the decision, this marked the start of a three-day nightmare for the couple. They were diverted to Montreal under the belief that there would be a replacement aircraft, only to be returned to Toronto and then Edmonton, with no route to Cuba offered by Air Canada.

Eventually, the couple bought a ticket to Cancun, Mexico, to try to salvage a holiday, which required them to take more time off work, resulting in lost revenue.

The judge determined that the original rejection of boarding caused “extreme stress” and that Air Canada “failed completely” in its “duty to communicate.”

The APPR states that if a carrier provides a benefit to a passenger who volunteers to give up their seats on an overbooked trip, such as putting them on another flight, that passenger must receive written confirmation before the flight departs.

Air Canada Defiant

The pair were initially told that Air Canada had booked tickets for them on an Air Transat aircraft, but when they arrived at the airline’s information desk in Montreal, it had no knowledge of the purported reservations.

“It appears that Air Canada did not even have evidence of a communication with Air Transat or American Airlines,” according to the verdict.

Air Canada had contended that the court lacked authority to impose non-compensatory damages, that weather conditions beyond its control caused additional delays, and that it had met its APPR obligations by paying the plaintiffs $2,400 apiece as compensation for the refusal of boarding.

According to the legal decision, Air Canada stated that it had no other financial obligations in the case.

Air Canada acknowledged that this situation constitutes “denial of boarding,” according to the verdict.

According to the judgement, following the plaintiffs’ legal action, Air Canada repaid them for some out-of-pocket expenses, paying them around $1,800 for lodging and food charges.

However, the judge determined that this did not cover all of their expenses, including the additional cost of booking a new ticket to a different place and the loss of income.

On Wednesday, the plaintiffs celebrated their victory in a Facebook group for Air Passenger Rights, claiming that the case has “helped to set a new precedent that hopefully others can use in their cases.”

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Air Canada Launches Direct Flights from Vancouver to Manila

Today, Air Canada announced a strategic expansion of its international network, including nonstop flights between Vancouver International Airport and Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines.

The news came during the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Trade Mission, which is currently in the Philippines to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is Air Canada’s third Southeast Asia destination in the past two years.

Today, Air Canada announced the strategic development of its international network, including nonstop flights between its Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in the Philippines*.

“We are excited to add Manila to our global network with new, year-round, nonstop service from Vancouver, Air Canada’s Pacific gateway hub.” We will continue pursuing our international network strategy of expanding into large, rapidly rising markets that Air Canada does not serve directly.

The Philippines is an important market that reflects our two countries’ long-standing family ties and rising commercial and tourism potential. With a comprehensive domestic and transborder network in Vancouver that easily connects to our international flights, we are making travel between North America and the Philippines even more convenient for leisure and business travellers.

“We are very excited to welcome our customers onboard next spring,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning and President of Cargo at Air Canada.

Air Canada is the sole Canadian carrier slated to serve the Philippines, Asia’s largest market, without direct Air Canada service. Beginning April 2, 2025, the new route will fly four times weekly using the airline’s flagship Dreamliner aircraft.

It will be Air Canada’s 12th transpacific route from Vancouver, joining Japan, South Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, leveraging Vancouver’s geographic location as the closest major North American city to Asia.

With this new service, Air Canada will operate approximately 180 nonstop flights between Canada and the Pacific each week beginning next summer, the most of any carrier in the market.

This continues Air Canada’s development into fast-growing Southeast Asian markets, expanding on recent extensions to Singapore and Bangkok to more than triple summer season ticket capacity across the Pacific by 2022.

Flights from Canada to Manila are now available for purchase on www.aircanada.com, through Air Canada’s contact centres, and through travel agencies. Flights originating in Manila to Canada will be available for purchase shortly.

Air Canada Vancouver to Manila Flight Schedule**

Flights will be flown by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which have three service cabins for passengers: Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. Air Canada’s complimentary and extensive in-flight entertainment content includes over 1,400 hours of movies, 1,900 hours of television shows, and over 600 hours of music and podcasts, with live TV available at every seat.

The award-winning IFE works with Apple TV+, Audible, Disney+, Hayu, and others to deliver hours of movies, TV episodes, specialty channels, music albums, other video and audio content, and games in several languages from boarding to landing.

Eligible clients will get access to the Vancouver Air Canada Signature Suite, which provides a la carte dining and premium beverage selections in a relaxing airport enclave, as well as the Air Canada International Maple Leaf Lounge.

Vancouver additionally offers in-transit customs pre-clearance for inbound customers connecting internationally to make the journey through YVR easier. The new route also allows travellers to easily connect to and from over 50 North American destinations via Air Canada’s hub at Vancouver International Airport.

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Air Canada Resumes Directs Flights from Vancouver to Thailand

Google Flights Now Tells You The Best Time Fly

Savannah, Georgia – Hyundai has begun building electric SUVs in Georgia, less than two years after breaking construction on its huge $7.6 billion manufacturing facility west of Savannah.

Hyundai’s Georgia factory enjoyed an “employee-focused celebration” Thursday when its first commercial EV rolled off the assembly line, according to Bianca Johnson, spokesperson for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday.

“After validating its production processes to ensure its vehicles meet Hyundai Motor Group’s high quality standards, HMGMA has started initial production of customer vehicles ahead of schedule,” Johnson announced.

Hyundai Has Begun Producing Electric SUVs At Its $7.6 Billion Plant In Georgia

She stated that the Georgia facility will celebrate its grand inauguration in the first quarter of 2025.

Once the facility is fully operating, the South Korean automaker and battery partner LG Energy Solution intend to employ 8,500 people at the Bryan County location, which is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers west of Savannah). Hyundai has stated that it will make up to 300,000 EVs and battery packs in Georgia per year.

Johnson stated that the plant’s car manufacturing facilities have been completed and are staffed by about 1,000 workers. Its battery-making facilities are still under construction.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric SUVs will be manufactured in the Georgia plant for the first time in 2025. Johnson stated that the American-made EVs will arrive at dealerships in the United States before the end of the year.

In the first half of 2024, the Ioniq 5 was America’s second-best-selling electric vehicle that was not manufactured by market leader Tesla.

Hyundai broke ground for their Georgia factory in late October 2022. It is the state’s largest economic development initiative to date, with the state and municipal governments providing a total of $2.1 billion in tax exemptions and incentives.

Hyundai Has Begun Producing Electric SUVs At Its $7.6 Billion Plant In Georgia

Hyundai hurried to begin producing EVs in Georgia within two years of its inception, fueled by government electric car subsidies that encourage local production.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in 2022 with features aimed at combating climate change, contains a tax credit of up to $7,500 for EV customers, but only on cars manufactured in North America with domestic batteries. Though Hyundai executives argued that the law was unjust, Hyundai President and Global Chief Operating Officer Jose Munoz said it prompted the carmaker to push for an earlier opening in Georgia.

SOURCE | AP