Is there a need for more airline competition in Saskatchewan?

News of the strike is not a surprise according to a well-known travel agency in Prince Albert. Mike Bayda, the owner of Lobstick Travel said thankfully, the looming strike hasn’t affected bookings that much.

However, he noted that the state of the airline industry in Canada, particularly for the west is causing a lot more headaches for agencies like his.

“The reality is now that Air Canada and WestJet for the most part have divided the country in two, we in the West really don’t have a lot of options,” he said in an email to paNOW. “If you want to fly from Saskatoon to anywhere in Western Canada other than Vancouver, you are booking on WestJet and hoping for the best. Transborder and internationally, most of bookings are with Air Canada to begin with as they have a much larger network than Westjet.”

The story of airline competition in Canada is nothing new, in fact it was discussed in the House of Commons earlier this year. Politicians from all sides were scrambling for answers following delays at Canada’s busiest airports because of winter storms. Sunwing Airlines was the main culprit behind the delays and cancellations over the busy Christmas travel season.

Conservative leader Pierre Poillievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh both say more competition is needed as well as better protections for air travellers.

Meanwhile, Keith Willoughby from the Edwards School of business at the University of Saskatchewan said it’s unfortunate that only two major airlines are delivering the bulk of service to the country.

“You’ve obviously got a situation where they are controlling the vast majority of all airline traffic in this country,” he said. “You’ve really put the traveller in a real bind right now.”

Now Willoughby did acknowledge the airline industry is still feeling the effects from the pandemic shutdowns and a drop in airline traffic.

But since the bulk of restrictions were lifted, airlines like Air Canada have cut services including a decision to remove direct flights from Saskatoon and Regina to Calgary.

Willoughby also notes that Air Canada has retired many old, smaller planes that would have been used for smaller routes.

So what’s the solution? Is it more carriers and options or more government regulations?

Willoughby said right now, it’s up to the two big players to make sure all Cnadian travellers have options.

“I think airlines need to listen more clearly to the needs of Saskatchewan-based travellers,” he said. “We’re in an economic region of the country that is growing, that is flourishing, and I’m concerned that the airlines are making some short-dighted decisions that are not necessarily in the best interest of the Saskatchewan-based participant.”

He noted more competition is a good thing, but not that easy, noting there are barriers for a new airline to come on board and provide regular service to passengers.

Examples of other airlines and low cost carriers that are no longer in Canada include Zoom, Canada 3000, Zip, and Candian Airlines which merged with Air Canada in 1999. Currently other smaller carriers operating in the country include Lynx, Flair, and Porter.

–With files from The Canadian Press

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Derek Craddock

Is there a need for more airline competition in Saskatchewan?

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