Computer Reservation Systems (CRS)

Act: Aeronautics Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-2
Regulation: Canadian Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) Regulations, SOR/95-275

To Whom Does This Apply?

Air carriers, travel agents or vendors of computer reservation systems (CRS) which are operated in Canada for the purpose of displaying or selling air services.

The Canadian CRS Regulations do not apply to CRS that are used by a carrier, its affiliates or a charterer in their own offices and at their own sales counters, or to carrier Web sites.

Summary

The Canadian CRS Regulations were enacted to ensure the fair and neutral presentation of information on air services that are displayed or made available for purchase from any CRS available in Canada. The Canadian CRS Regulations allow CRS vendors and air carriers that use CRS to market and distribute information on air services, within a framework that allows competition while assuring recipients, including travel agents and consumers, that the information is comprehensive and neutral.

The Canadian CRS Regulations address the following matters:

• display information;
• constructing connecting flights;
• additional obligations of system vendors;
• service enhancements;
• personal booking information;
• obligations of subscribers;
• prohibitions; and 
• order requiring equivalent treatment.

The underlying legislative authority for the Canadian CRS Regulations is the Aeronautics Act. This Act was passed into law by Parliament in the exercise of its exclusive jurisdiction over all matters with respect to aeronautics. This Act is divided into four parts:

• Part I deals with the control of aeronautics in general;
• Part II, dealing with economic regulatory matters, has been repealed but is replaced in part by the Canada Transportation Act;
• Part III sets out miscellaneous administrative provisions; and
• Part IV creates the Civil Aviation Tribunal. For more information about the Tribunal, see the document Appearing Before the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada.

Parts of the Canadian CRS Regulations are designated further to the Designated Provisions Regulations whereby a person found in contravention of these parts may be subject to an administrative monetary penalty.

Note: The Canadian CRS Regulations were first enacted in 1995 and were amended in 2004. For further information, please visit Transport Canada's Web site at http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2004/04-h025e.htm 

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Ms. Christine Blain
Director
National Air Services Policy
Transport Canada
27th Floor, Tower C
Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Telephone: 613-949-7270
Fax: 613-991-6445
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: blainc@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/me