Air Transport in Canada | Competition Bureau Launches Market Study

(Gatineau) The Competition Bureau announces that it is launching a market study into the Canadian airline industry as concerns over prices and quality persist.


Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell said “many people in Canada are frustrated by the cost and quality of services offered in this country” and that he intends to make recommendations to improve the situation.

PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES

Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition

The watchdog says the study will focus on the state of competition among carriers, barriers to entry and growth in the market and obstacles for travellers seeking to make informed choices.

The bureau says Air Canada and WestJet control about 80 per cent of the domestic market and fares “could be relatively high.”

Meanwhile, the number of passenger complaints filed with the country’s transport regulator hit a new record, topping 72,000, leading to waiting times of up to two years.

The Competition Bureau’s final report is expected in June 2025.


source site-55