Air Canada fined $3,000 after family stuck 33 days

Air Canada has been fined CA$4,100 (approximately US$3,100) by a Canadian court after a family was left stranded in Panama for 33 days. The incident began in 2017 when Paula Mejias, a Venezuelan woman, and her children were en route to Toronto to visit their father. At Tocumen International Airport, they were informed that their Canadian visas had been unexpectedly canceled, preventing them from continuing their journey.

The Federal Court of Canada ruled that Air Canada overstepped its authority in handling the situation. The court found that Arlin Corrales, an Air Canada check-in supervisor, acted based on personal assumptions about the family's potential for overstaying in Canada, rather than following proper airline procedures. The court emphasized that airlines are not responsible for immigration decisions and should only verify the validity of passenger documents.

This ruling sets a significant precedent regarding the role of airlines in immigration matters and reinforces the importance of adhering to established protocols and respecting the authority of immigration authorities. The case has raised important questions about the limits of airline responsibility in ensuring travel documentation compliance.