Decision No. 673-AT-A-2005

November 8, 2005

File No. 3570/99-53

BACKGROUND

In its Decision No. 448-AT-A-2005 dated July 12, 2005, the Canadian Transportation Agency (hereinafter the Agency) made a determination with respect to an application filed by Elliott Richman pertaining to the absence of TTY (telephone-teletype device for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing) access to the Canadian reservation system of British Airways Plc carrying on business as British Airways (hereinafter British Airways).

The Agency determined that the absence of TTY access to British Airways' Canadian reservations system at the time of Mr. Richman's application constituted an undue obstacle to Mr. Richman and to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing in general.

Pursuant to Decision No. 448-AT-A-2005, British Airways was directed by the Agency to install a TTY and provide the Agency with a written confirmation that the TTY service is operational; and to include the TTY number on its Web site, in all advertisements, and in all future publications providing information about the air carrier that is otherwise available to the general public. British Airways was required to implement the measures within sixty (60) days from the date of the Decision. Following a review of the action taken, the Agency would determine whether further action was required.

ISSUE

The issue to be addressed is whether the Agency is satisfied with the measures taken by British Airways in response to Decision No. 448-AT-A-2005.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

The Agency has reviewed the information filed by British Airways on September 12, 2005 in response to Decision No. 448-AT-A-2005.

British Airways submitted that it maintains an operational TTY service to its Canadian reservations system and that information on how to access the TTY service is currently included on the British Airways Web site for Canada. The Agency has verified that the TTY service is both operational and published on the carrier's Canadian Web site. British Airways also submitted that the information will be published in future promotions and advertisements where telephone numbers available to the general public are listed.

In light of the foregoing, the Agency is satisfied that the measures undertaken by the carrier should assist in preventing the recurrence of situations similar to the one experienced by Mr. Richman.

CONCLUSION

The Agency is satisfied with the measures taken by British Airways in response to Decision No. 448-AT-A-2005. Accordingly, the Agency does not contemplate any further action in this matter.

Members

• Guy Delisle
• Gilles Dufault
• Beaton Tulk