stockwatch.com Globe says Competition Bureau eyes Air Canada, rivals
2024-05-10 08:22 ET - In the News
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The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, May 10, edition that the Competition Bureau is launching a study of airline competition in Canada. The Globe's Eric Atkins writes that the agency's Melissa Fisher says the bureau will first consult with the Transport Minister on the scope of the study, which will examine how government policies affect competition among Canada's air carriers. Ms. Fisher told federal politicians on a parliamentary transport committee Thursday, "We intend to study the state of competition in the airline industry and how governments across Canada can improve competition for the benefit of domestic air passengers as well as the workers and entrepreneurs who enable these services." In recent years, the watchdog has raised concerns about the proposed takeovers involving Air Canada and Transat AT, WestJet Airlines and Sunwing Airlines and Canadian North and First Air. Public Interest Advocacy Centre director John Lawford told the transport committee Canada's airline market has long been dominated by two main carriers, Air Canada and WestJet, with low-cost airlines that come and go within two or three years. He said, "There was and is currently a problem with concentration in the Canadian market."