The controversial case of passenger bumping is still being condemned worldwide. In the aftermath, federal Transport Minister, Marc Garneau, stated that legislation that will address airline passengers’ rights would be in place later this spring. Although Garneau has not divulged any specifics, the proposed bill comes as welcome news.

Flashbacks of Dr David Dao’s violent removal, from a United Airlines flight at the Chicago’s O’Hare airport, pose concerns about overbooking of flights in the U.S. or anywhere else.

It is a common practice for airlines to overbook flights and bump off passengers. In the ambit of Canada’s government, there are details on the rights of air passengers on the website, but the legislation aspect is missing. A set of regulations that indicate compensation that airlines must pay on overbooking or when a flight is delayed or cancelled is not clear at present.

In light of the legislation, Garneau said that it would spell out situations where compensations would apply. He added that it would be fair and would recognise passengers’ rights while being practical for airlines. The Minister reiterated that this recognises that when you buy a ticket to a flight somewhere, you will have certain rights.

The Bill of rights would address the issue of what would happen when you are not given the service for what you have paid. Garneau highlighted that enshrining rules would minimise overbooking situations and people feeling that they had no recourse.

The prospective Bill of Rights includes a minimum payment for involuntary bumping, limits police from forcibly removing passengers, and places restrictions on bumping passengers for reasons like making room for crew members or premium passengers. The proposal would also put aspects of suing airlines for delays, price gouging, or regular late flights.