Fraser Institute Suggests Air Travel Reforms

The Fraser Institute released its findings on Canadian air travel in a report titled “Clearing the Runway: Reforms to Enhance Air Travel Competition” with suggestions it says could reduce the high cost of flying within Canada.

The think tank, which generally advocates for less government involvement, presents four areas where reduced fees and legislation could result in lower prices for air passengers. The study argues that allowing for-profit airport ownership, removing cabotage restrictions (which would allow foreign airlines to operate domestic routes), deregulating non-safety-related federal regulations and reducing airport improvement fees and other taxes would all result in more affordable ticket prices for travellers.

"As Canadian travellers know all too well, airfares in Canada are higher than in other countries,” said Jake Fuss, director of Fiscal Studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the study. “But by aligning federal policies with international best practices, Canadians could see significantly more affordable flights."

(Photo Credit: The Fraser Institute)

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