Canada has announced a new law that could prevent passengers from being removed by an airline in the case of an overbooked flight.
Any flier who has a ticket for domestic or international flights in Canada will be protected under this new passenger bill of rights.
It has been announced by Transportation Minister Marc Garneau that airlines will no longer be allowed to forcibly take passengers off the plane due to overbooking.
This change in the industry is a welcome one for any worried fliers regarding their rights onboard a flight.
“When Canadians buy an airline ticket they expect the airline to keep its part of the deal,” he said as cited by local media.
In addition to this, any passengers who voluntarily leave their seat are to receive fair compensation.
Other changes to the bill also include removing the charge for parents to sit next to their children if under the age of 14, as well as ensuring airlines are explicit in what they offer regarding lost luggage or delayed passengers due to external conditions.
Garneau is hoping the legislation will be in place by 2018.
The new law comes in light of the viral video showing a passenger being dragged off a United Airlines flight in Chicago last month.
The man was seriously injured as a result of this, causing outrage across the globe.
Ronnie Wood’s ex-wife Jo Wood also took to Twitter after she was bumped off an EasyJet flight due to it being overbooked.
The common practice for airlines has recently come under fire in the way airlines handle the situation, despite it being an old regulation.
Whilst it is great news for Canadians, this new law hasn't extended into the UK just yet.
Frequent travellers can find out just how much money they can make if they are forced off a flight.
However before any holidaymakers worry for their future plans, it is actually very rare for it to happen.
Statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority report it is only 0.02 per cent of UK passengers who get removed from a flight.
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