Air Canada Ordered to Pay Over $10 Million to Passengers in Class Action Ruling
Air Canada--
The Quebec Court of Appeal has ordered Air Canada to pay more than $10 million in damages to passengers in a class action lawsuit, after it was found the airline charged more than the advertised ticket prices.
Justice Judith Harvie, in a ruling released Tuesday, criticized the airline for showing “ignorance and laxity” in assuming it was exempt from a key provision of Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act.
The court said Air Canada prioritized its own commercial interests at the expense of consumer transparency.
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The decision overturns an earlier ruling that found the airline had broken the law but claimed no harm had been done, and therefore dismissed the need for punitive damages.
The case, originally filed 15 years ago, was led by a Montreal resident who said he was charged $124 in additional fees and surcharges that were not included in the advertised price during his ticket purchase.
A consumer advocacy group joined the suit, arguing that the airline misled customers and should return any excess charges beyond the displayed fare.
The ruling arrives amid broader debate around so-called "junk fees" in the airline industry, as companies increasingly separate base fares from add-on costs. Air Canada has not yet issued a formal response to the decision.
