Ottawa, ON, June 19, 2025 – Jeff Morrison, President and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), today issued the following statement following the release of the Competition Bureau of Canada’s report entitled “Cleared for take off:  Elevating airline competition”: 

NACC notes that the Competition Bureau has recognized that aviation is not a luxury, but a necessity in Canada.  The Bureau has also recognized the cost impact of the Canadian user pay model on Canadian travelers, the impact on competitiveness of excessive federal government fees and charges, of outdated and restrictive regulations (such as the proposed Air Passenger Protection Regulation changes and Flight and Duty Time regulations), and a lack of support for airport infrastructure.

Addressing such systemic and structural issues should be the priority.  Other proposed recommendations, such as increasing foreign ownership or allowing cabotage, will not address the Bureau’s concerns about reducing the cost of travel and increasing connectivity.

In order to reduce the cost of air travel and increase connectivity for Canadians, we need an environment that stimulates growth.  As outlined in detail in our August 2024 submission to the Bureau, the current aviation system does not provide that environment.

Despite the challenges of operating within the Canadian aviation system, Canada’s airlines link Canadians from all regions of this country to the others, including northern and remote regions; performance metrics such as on time completions have significantly improved since pandemic restrictions were lifted; and the Competition Bureau Report notes that airfares have reduced.

To enhance the affordability and sustainability of the air travel system, the federal government should take a number of immediate measures, including:

  • Invest in airport infrastructure in order to upgrade airport operations, ensure growth and slot access, and enhance the role of aviation as a key link in the supply chain.
  • Freeze all federal fees and charges in aviation and look for efficiencies so that fees can be lowered.
  • Conduct a regulatory modernization exercise in aviation, so that duplicative or unnecessarily costly regulations can be reformed or updated.

These short-term measures are important; but in order for Canada to have a world class affordable aviation system, the federal government needs to undertake a holistic review of its aviation policies toward a more sustainable, accessible, and affordable air travel system. 

“Canadians deserve an aviation system that is affordable and promotes a competitive environment, one that brings Canada in line with international best practices”, concluded Morrison.  “The federal government needs to take action in both the immediate and long-term for that vision to be more fully realized.”

About the National Airlines Council of Canada:

The National Airlines Council of Canada represents Canada’s largest national and international passenger air carriers:   Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet.  It promotes safe, sustainable, accessible and competitive air travel by advocating for the development of policies, regulations and legislation to foster a world-class transportation system.  In 2024, air transportation contributed an estimated 3.8% of Canada’s GDP, and supported 809,000 jobs in Canada.

Media Requests:   Please contact Carlene Variyan, cvariyan@summa.ca; 613-601-7456.