More fines for Montreal influencers filmed partying on Sunwing flight

More passengers that flouted COVID rules by partying onboard a now infamous Sunwing charter flight are facing hefty fines, according to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

“There are consequences for those who break the rules! We have issued a new series of 6 penalties, up to $5,000, to travellers on the Dec 30 flight to Cancun. 5 penalties for non-compliance w/ vaccination rules & 1 penalty for not wearing a mask. 12 penalties so far. More to come!” Alghabra wrote on Twitter Monday.

Under Canada’s Contraventions Act, non-compliance of Canada’s COVID-19 measures, including the vaccination requirement to board an airplane from a Canadian airport, can result in tickets up to $5,000. Those rules remain in effect and there is no date when it will be lifted.

The new fines are in addition to the previous charges announced earlier this month by Transport Canada for the half-dozen passengers on the flight from Montreal to Cancun last year.

Videos of the wild onboard party were shared on social media, showing mask-less passengers dancing in the aisles, and even one woman smoking a vape, leading to major backlash and condemnation.

The transport minister had previously deemed their behaviours unacceptable and said there would be more repercussions of their actions.

Sunwing has said in an email that passengers — some were Quebec-based social media influencers — violated aviation regulations and public health rules with “unruly behaviour,” prompting an internal probe.

The flight took off about two weeks after the federal government advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.

With files from The Canadian Press