Canadian Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) Regulations (SOR/95-275)

Constructing Connecting Flights

• 15 (1) A system vendor shall not use any factors that relate, directly or indirectly, to carrier identity in constructing connecting flights for a display.

• (2) to (4) [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 8]

• (5) A system vendor shall provide to all subscribers and participating carriers, on request, current information about

  • (a) all connecting points for each market;

  • (b) all criteria used to select connecting points;

  • (c) all criteria used to edit connecting flights; and

  • (d) the weight given to each criterion referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c).

16 [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 9]

Additional Obligations of System Vendors

• 17 (1) A system vendor shall allow any carrier the opportunity to participate in its distribution facilities and service enhancements, subject to any technical constraints that are outside the control of the system vendor.

• (2) A system vendor shall not require, as a condition for participation in its system, the purchase or sale of any other goods or services.

• 18 (1) A system vendor shall apply the same standards of care and promptness in loading the information of each participating carrier.

• (2) Where a system vendor provides special loading capability to any participating carrier, it shall offer the same capability to all other participating carriers as soon as this is technically feasible.

• (3) A system vendor shall provide on request by any participating carrier all current database update procedures and data formats related to schedule and fare processing.

19 A system vendor is not required to display information provided by a carrier that will not enter into a contract with the system vendor in accordance with these Regulations.

20 [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 11]

• 21 (1) The billing for the services of a system shall be in a form and of sufficient detail to allow a participating carrier to verify promptly and exactly which services have been used and the fees for those services.

• (2) The billing referred to in subsection (1) shall be provided by an electronic medium that is compatible with the electronic medium used by the participating carrier and shall include the following information for each billable segment:

  • (a) the type of CRS booking;

  • (b) the (booking) status code;

  • (c) the booking/cancellation indicator;

  • (d) the PNR record locator number;

  • (e) the passenger name;

  • (f) the country of origin;

  • (g) the IATA/ARC/BSP agency identification code, or other information identifying the agency;

  • (h) the pseudo-city code;

  • (i) the CRS transaction date (booking date);

  • (j) the city-pair or segment;

  • (k) the flight date;

  • (l) the flight number; and

  • (m) the class of service.

• 22 (1) A system vendor shall ensure that its distribution facilities are separated by software, either physically or logically, in a clear and verifiable manner from any hosting services that are provided to a carrier.

• (2) A system vendor shall ensure equality of treatment of hosted and non-hosted carriers in respect of procedures, protocols, inputs and outputs.

• (3) A system vendor shall offer to participating carriers interfaces that are compatible with the relevant, generally accepted industry standards.

23 [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 13]

24 A system vendor shall display the complete unedited text of these Regulations in the reference information maintained in its system.

Service Enhancements

25 Where a system vendor adds any improvement to distribution facilities, service enhancements or the equipment used to provide distribution facilities or service enhancements, it shall offer, and provide information about, that improvement to all participating carriers, subject to any technical constraints that are outside the control of the system vendor.

26 A system vendor shall not make available to subscribers the internal reservations system display of a participating carrier unless

• (a) all participating carriers are offered the capability to make their internal reservations system displays available to subscribers; and

• (b) a subscriber may see the internal reservations system display only by requesting it for a specific transaction.

27. and 28 [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 16]

Obligations of Subscribers

29 A subscriber shall provide to a consumer all the information provided by participating carriers and charterers pursuant to section 14 respecting each service in which the consumer expresses an interest

• (a) orally, at the time the consumer expresses an interest and at the time of reservation or sale; and

• (b) in writing, at the time of reservation, when requested by the consumer, and at the time the ticket is issued.

30 In any direct oral communication with a consumer concerning a flight that is part of a code-sharing arrangement or long-term wet lease, a subscriber shall

• (a) inform the consumer, before booking transportation, that the transporting carrier is not the carrier whose designator code will appear on the ticket and shall identify the transporting carrier; and

• (b) at the time of sale, provide the consumer with written notice of the carrier that will be operating the service or segment of an itinerary.

31 When a transaction between a subscriber and a consumer takes place in an alternative communications medium where there is no oral exchange or written record, the subscriber may maintain evidence of having met the requirements of section 29 by including a notation in the passenger name record (PNR) that the information was communicated to the consumer.

Prohibitions

32 No carrier shall require, directly or indirectly, a subscriber or potential subscriber to use a system as a condition for obtaining any benefit, commission, rebate, discount or other incentive for the sale of, or as a condition for obtaining access to, air services provided by it or its affiliates.

33 No system vendor operating in Canada shall use its sales force responsible for marketing the system to promote, directly or indirectly, any carrier to subscribers.

34 No carrier shall use its sales force responsible for marketing its air services in Canada to promote, directly or indirectly, any system or system vendor to subscribers.

35 No member of a sales force responsible for marketing a system of a system vendor and no member of a sales force responsible for marketing the air services of a carrier shall make or participate in joint marketing calls or presentations to subscribers.

36 [Repealed, SOR/2004-91, s. 17]

Order Requiring Equivalent Treatment

37 Where the Minister of Transport is of the opinion that the treatment given to Canadian participating carriers by a system vendor operating in a foreign country is not equivalent to the treatment given to foreign participating carriers with regard to any matter contained in these Regulations, the Minister may, by order, require all system vendors operating in Canada to treat carriers of the foreign country in a manner that is equivalent to the treatment given to Canadian participating carriers in that foreign country.