When COVID hit, the airlines were sitting with billions of dollars in cash that Canadians paid for flights that were all canceled. How much of that money was refunded? Why were vouchers offered instead? And why did the transport regulator that’s supposed to uphold the rules bend them to the advantage of Air Canada and other carriers? 

Reporter Cherise Seucharan has obtained newly-unearthed communications from March 2020 that show airline industry execs,  credit card companies,  and the transportation ministry, cooperating – perhaps collaborating, to pressure Canada’s airline watchdog to bend the rules. 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Cherise Seucharan (Reporter) Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor/ Mixer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher), Caleb Thompson (additional production assistance)

Featured guests: Gabor Lukacs

Additional music by Audio Network

Further reading:

• Newly revealed e-mails raise questions about Canadian transportation regulator’s independence – Globe and Mail, Feb 2, 2022
• Air Canada, Canadian government reach agreement in $5.9-billion ‘liquidity program –  CTV News, April 12, 2021
• Air passenger advocacy group asks top court to hear ticket refund case – Castlegar News, Aug 4, 2024
• Air Canada to pay US$4.5 million in settlement with U.S. Department of Transportation – CTV News, Nov 22, 2021
• ‘On the brink’: Airlines flee small cities, cutting key links to rest of the country – CBC, Aug 11, 2024

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This episode features the audio short, “The Boat Blow-Up” by Sophie Woodrooffe (Gibsons, B.C.), one of the finalists from the 2024 Local Correspondents Audio Competition, a CanadaLabs initiative.

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