CTA orders Air Transat to explain YOW delay

Air Transat has been ordered by the Canadian Transportation Agency to explain the reasons for two recent flight delays, including this week’s incident at Ottawa International Airport where passengers were confined inside an aircraft for six hours as it sat on the tarmac.

The Canadian Press reported that the agency says it wants to know whether Air Transat respected its terms and conditions of carriage for international flights with respect to the treatment of passengers on the aircraft. Complaints filed by individual passengers with the agency regarding Monday's incidents will be addressed through the inquiry, the report stated.

On Monday night (July 31), Montreal-bound Air Transat flight TSC157 from Brussels was diverted to Ottawa International Airport after severe thunderstorms were reported in both Montreal and Toronto. Maryanne Zehil, one of the 336 passengers aboard the flight, was quoted by The Canadian Press as stating several passengers were having difficulty breathing due to the temperature inside the aircraft; one passenger made a call to 911 prompting cabin crew to hand out bottles of water, the report stated.

Air Transat has refuted the airport’s version of the incident.

In response to the CTA order, the airline offered a brief statement:

“Air Transat welcomes the Canadian Transportation Agency's inquiry into the July 31 delays at Ottawa airport. The company suggests that the inquiry examine all of the events and offers its full cooperation. Air Transat will make no comment while the inquiry is ongoing.”