Aviation

This airline will be billed $790 for each customer complaint resolved

In a bold move to streamline passenger complaint resolution, Canada’s transport regulator has proposed a new policy that would charge airlines $790 CAD (~$583 USD) for each customer complaint it resolves.

This initiative, announced by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), aims to alleviate the agency’s record-high backlog of air travel complaints, currently sitting at approximately 78,000 cases.

Mukesh Ambani is buying an aircraft worth Rs 1,000 crore

On Wednesday, the CTA launched a one-month consultation period to gather feedback on these proposed reforms, which would apply to valid customer complaints that the agency processes and settles. According to the agency, it anticipates resolving over 22,600 complaints annually, translating to about $17.9 million in fees levied against airlines.

The government hopes to recoup approximately 60% of the costs associated with handling these complaints, which are projected to reach $29.8 million annually. The bulk of these expenses stems from salaries and benefits for the agency’s resolution officers.

Top 10 Most Remarkable Experimental Aircraft

Critics of the proposal, including passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs, argue that the measure may not be sufficient to deter airlines from rule-breaking, stating it comes “too little, too late.” The CTA contends that the fee structure aims to provide a financial disincentive for airlines, potentially leading to improved compliance and better service for travelers.

The CTA’s proposal underscores the ongoing frustrations faced by passengers in Canada’s air travel system, as the demand for more effective complaint resolution processes continues to rise amid unprecedented travel disruptions.

Aviation

Did you know ? Once Boeing 747 carried 1088 passenger in 1991

In 1991, during Operation Solomon, Israel aimed to airlift 14,000 people from Ethiopia within 36 hours. The effort was intense, with a strong focus on evacuating as many individuals as possible from the country.

At the forefront of this operation was the Boeing 747, known as the “Queen of the Skies,” which transported nearly 1,088 passengers.

Due to the urgent circumstances, all passengers were seated on the aircraft floor, despite the Boeing’s typical maximum capacity being around 660 passengers as per manufacturer specifications.

The aircraft was granted special approval to take off under these exceptional conditions.

Amid political tensions and military reforms in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government requested the Jewish community to leave the country, providing them with a limited window for evacuation. In response, the community organized an airlift to facilitate their safe departure.

A fleet of 35 Israeli aircraft, including C-130s from the Israeli Air Force and El Al Boeing 747s, was deployed for the mission. These aircraft flew non-stop, successfully transporting most of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israel in one of the largest airlift operations in history.