Canadian airlines are seeing rising airfares

Canadians are feeling the pressure as airline ticket prices skyrocket, at a time when the airline industry is in Ottawa’s position.

According to the CAA, higher airfares are linked to increased competition and rising food and fuel prices.

Recently, an airline quietly added a new fee for travelers who booked the lowest fares (seat selection) but reversed it after customer criticism.

Although that fee has been eliminated and some fares have even been reduced, additional costs such as baggage and better seats mean that even though the flight itself costs less, Canadians often pay more.

Frustrations prevent plans

For some travelers, the costs are so high that they rely on last-minute deals and miss out if they can’t find anything.

A Halifax couple told CTV National News’ Paul Hollingsworth they almost gave up traveling because of the cost when they came across a “good smoking deal.”

Travelers are also facing frustrations over lengthy delays, with one traveler saying two to three hours can be ‘crushing’.

Data released last week shows air travel complaints in Canada have reached a record high, with the Canadian Transportation Agency facing a backlog of more than 71,000, while about 43,550 complaints were filed last year alone.

Airlines under scrutiny

In addition to the criticism from travelers, airline executives are also under the scrutiny of a House of Commons committee.

Airlines such as Lynx Air, which has filed for protection from its creditors, and Air Canada, which reported an $81 million loss in the first quarter, are among Canadian companies struggling to balance economic viability with the need to address issues faced by travelers.

Mechanisms such as the Air Passenger Bill of Rights are intended to meet growing calls for accountability, says CAA’s Julia Kent.

“(It’s) what we want to see implemented,” she said, adding that there is hope for changes to the bill.

Despite the challenges, there are signs of recovery in the tourism sector as pandemic travel restrictions ease, with a return to about 85 per cent of pre-pandemic activities in 2023, a Halifax Stanfield International Airport spokesperson said.

More activity is expected in the coming months, with several airlines and flights returning, she added.