As the United States, Canada, and Mexico work through legislative issues, the International Air Transport Association says the good intentions could result in more problems for flyers.

The International Air Transport Association says the combination of outgoing administrations and over-legislation could create a storm of issues for flyers in the coming years.

The commentary comes from the IATA Annual General Meeting, being held from Sunday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 4 in Dubai.

“Aviation Represents the Entire Continent”

Speaking at a press briefing, IATA regional vice president Peter Cerda underscored the importance of aviation in the North Americas. Noting that over 90% of tourists arrive to the American continents by air, he noted that the aviation industry is targeted for taxes and fees more than other forms of transportation despite the lack of infrastructure for buses and rail travel.

Although the North American market is expected to grow by over 6% in 2024, he said flyers are expected to pay a higher cost for airport upkeep and improvements. As an example: Canadians pay exorbitantly higher taxes compared to other parts of the Americas, even on domestic routes. For a trip between Calgary and Toronto, around $100 of the ticket price is additional government expenses.

“Canada’s airports are charged rent by federal government, money which is not reinvested in the aviation value chain,” said Cerda. “Hence, passengers are charged airport improvement fees through the ticket funding improvement in airport infrastructure.”

Their regulatory issues do not end with taxes. Cerda also pointed to recent regulations in the United States which would force airlines to provide flyers with refunds for delayed or cancelled flights, even when the carrier has no control over the situation. Combined with a change which would require airlines to advertise fares with ancillary fees. Cerda argues that the changes will ultimately cost travelers more over the long run, despite having more avenues to get their money back.

“It’s important to balance consumer rights with the unique aspects of air travel, ensuring fairness and sustainability for all stakeholders,” said Cerda. “Unfortunately, we still see legislation being proposed in many countries for the protection of the consumer which will only drive-up costs and not necessarily help the traveler.”

Instead of blaming the airlines alone, Cerda suggests making other stakeholders bear more responsibility for flyers missing connections or flight issues. As an example, he pointed to the time to clear customs or security in U.S. airports. While other nations are using biometrics and new technology to streamline the process, the United States and other nations are noticeably lagging behind.

“What all these legislative initiatives fail to address is the topic of shared accountability: Airlines operate in a complex network, where service disruptions can occur due to interlinked factors,” said Cerda. “The focus should instead be on ensuring the entities causing the disruptions take responsibility rather than unfairly attributing the blame to the airlines.”

When addressing the interoperation issues between the United States and Mexico, Cerda said the two nations faced a perfect storm of issues, as both countries are in a presidential election cycle. After the current administration downgraded Mexico to a Category 2 country in 2021 before restoring it two and one-half years later, they announced plans at the beginning of 2024 to break up the four-year-old joint venture between Delta and Aeromexico.

“We’re a fast-changing industry. Joint ventures, codesharing, and open skies is the name of the game,” said Cerda. “It’s the best way to bring more competition, more connectivity, and better service and pricing for passengers. If the U.S. government and Mexican government are unwilling to sit down and discuss a reasonable partnership which benefits the entire industry, it will have a detrimental effect on connectivity.”

Cerda is encouraging government stakeholders to continue to work with the aviation industry to improve the passenger experience in multiple ways. With air carriers willing to work with carriers, IATA is asking for their international partners to work together towards mutual success.

“Today’s passengers expect a seamless and pleasant travel, without long lines, by using biometrics and the latest technologies to facilitate travel and not hinder it,” said Cerda. “This is what the passenger should expect when they travel.”