The Financial Post reports in its Saturday edition that the main lobby group for airlines wants the Canadian government to steer clear of regulating overbooking, a practice it says is a key driver of profitability for airlines and helps keeps airfares low. The Post's Alicja Siekierska quotes Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive officer of the International Air Transport Association, as saying: "There is absolutely no need to regulate overbooking. This is the airlines' position based on a long, long experience. The need for airlines to overbook in managing their seats, their revenues, is key. Otherwise they would be obliged to increase fares." The federal government's sweeping transportation legislation, Bill C-49, aims to spell out exactly what rights airline passengers have and ensure that people who purchase flight tickets cannot be forced off due to overbooking. The legislation passed first reading in the Senate last week. While the Transport Ministry has tasked the Canadian Transportation Agency with the responsibility of spelling out the regulations within the passenger bill of rights, Transport Minister Marc Garneau has said the new regulations will address denied boarding, specifically overbooking.