The number of air travelers' complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency has more than tripled to reach 42,000 last year.

This increasing backlog means that each case now takes more than a year and a half to handle, prompting advocates and politicians to question the entire process.

Transport critic for the New Democratic Party, Taylor Bachrach, plans to introduce a bill today aimed at closing loopholes, increasing fines, and making compensation automatic for passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled.

Bachrach and John Loford, head of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, also said that the reform of the Passenger Rights Charter promised by the federal government for this spring needs to make compensation automatic in the event of a major delay or cancellation within a short period.

Last week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra pledged 76 million dollars over three years to reduce the backlog by hiring an additional 200 employees.

He also pledged to close a loophole allowing airlines to reject compensation claims by citing safety as a reason for flight disruption.

The accumulation of complaints increased after travel chaos erupted during the summer and again during the winter holiday with rising demand for flights and uncooperative weather.