Toronto Star: Deadline looms for Air Canada pilot strike — and experts say Ottawa would be unlikely to step in

Fiona Odlum — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 18:16:51 +0000

On Aug. 22, Air Canada pilots voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike if a deal is not reached with the airline by the Sept. 17 deadline.

Whether the 5,400 pilots walk out will depend a lot on whether the company is willing to risk a shut down, said Barry Prentice, director of the Transport Institute at the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. Now that the airline is entering the slower fall travel season, Prentice says they might be willing to risk a strike.

The government, however, has a track record of legislating pilots back to work, said Prentice, noting Stephen Harper’s conservative government legislated pilots back to work in 2012.

To read the full story, please visit the Toronto Star.

The Canadian Press: Canadian airline market on path to consolidation, raising risk of higher fares

Fiona Odlum — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:11:28 +0000

Some experts warn that the shrinking airline tally could mean less service and higher prices, particularly in the West and smaller markets across the country.

High airport rents, security fees and fuel taxes raise the baseline cost of flying, making it harder for budget airlines to coax budget-conscious Canadians on board.

“The high fees certainly make it more challenging for the discount carriers,” said University of Manitoba transport institute director Barry Prentice.

The market’s decades-long domination by Air Canada and WestJet can also stifle competition, some industry players argue.

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Toronto Star: Deadline looms for Air Canada pilot strike — and experts say Ottawa would be unlikely to step in

The Canadian Press: Canadian airline market on path to consolidation, raising risk of higher fares