Air Canada has launched an alternative process to resolve compensation claims in a pilot project that seeks to avert the massive backlog at the country’s transport regulator.
The airline said Wednesday it is asking 500 randomly selected claimants who have filed complaints with the Canadian Transportation Agency if they want their cases referred instead to an independent arbitrator. The claims often revolve around demands for refunds or compensation after a flight delay or cancellation.
Funded by Air Canada, the parallel arbitration track will be run by a subsidiary of the U.K.-based CDRL Group, a non-profit that resolves dispute claims in areas ranging from retail to utilities. The adjudicator would rule on the claims within 90 days of receiving “full information” from both sides, Air Canada said….