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Canada’s Competition Bureau Asked To Examine Air Canada, WestJet Costs

By  |  January 18, 2023

The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce has filed a complaint with Canada’s Competition Bureau over Air Canada’s decision to stop flights from Saskatoon to Calgary.

“Air Canada has not adequately explained its ‘business decision’ to disregard strong and growing demand and eliminate a route that has been consistently profitable for over 30 years,” said Chamber CEO Jason Aebig in a news release.

The complaint comes as WestJet confirmed it is adding more direct flights between the two cities. The Chamber is asking the federal agency to determine whether the two carriers either “expressly or tacitly came to an agreement to allocate markets” in violation of the Competition Act.

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“If Air Canada is unwilling to explain its decision to its customers and stakeholders, it can explain its decision to its regulators,” Aebig said.

“Generations of taxpayers have supported the operation of our airlines and national air services system with the expectation that they work for the benefit of all Canadians, in every province and region,” Aebig said.

“They have a responsibility to the country, and specifically the travelling public, to account for decisions that are clearly undermining competition and choice.”