March 13,19 - Consumers advised to contact their travel agents
Mississauga, ONT. - In light of Transport Canada’s decision to ground all Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft, The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is advising consumers who have upcoming flights on Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft to contact their travel agent to determine if this safety concern affects their flights.
“TICO is concerned about the impact of today’s decision by Transport Canada on consumer’s travel plans. While safety must always take precedence, consumers are advised to contact their travel agent to understand the protections available to them under Ontario’s travel legislation,” says Richard Smart, President and CEO of TICO.
According to TICO’s interpretation of the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05, Transport Canada’s ruling regarding the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft is considered the result of a safety consideration.
Section 40(1) of the Regulation requires TICO-registered travel agencies, websites and tour operators to provide the customer with a full, immediate refund or comparable alternate travel services acceptable to the customer if the scheduled departure of any transportation that forms part of the travel services is delayed or advanced by twenty-four hours or more, unless the reason for the delay results from mechanical problems that relate to the mode of transportation, safety considerations, the weather, a strike or a force majeure.
Therefore, TICO-registered travel agencies, websites and tour operators would have the right to “delay” the scheduled departure of transportation by 24 hours or more without offering a refund or alternate travel services.
Consumers should also carefully review the terms and conditions of their purchase to determine the obligations of their travel agent.
If consumers have any questions regarding the information in this document, you should contact TICO, Tel: 1-888-451-TICO (8426) or
About TICO: The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is a self-managed, not-for-profit corporation, responsible for administration and enforcement of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05 on behalf of the Ontario government. The legislation governs all of the approximately 2,400 travel retailers and travel wholesalers registered in Ontario. In addition, TICO administers an industry-financed Travel Industry Compensation Fund.
-30-
For media inquiries contact:
Priya Ramsingh
Stakeholder Relations Manager
Mobile: 647-355-0900