Yes, I absolutely do share that concern. It's a very delicate balance to protect the needs of consumers. I think we would all universally agree on that, but there may be unintended consequences. Without getting into too much detail, I think the demands for the time in which a delayed flight has to be recovered by the airline make it very easy for them to axe markets that don't have daily service.
It's easy to get another tail to fly a route if you're at Trudeau or Pearson, but when you're in Moncton, New Brunswick, or Gander, you have to remember that most of these shoulder season services are built on non-daily service. We have carriers flying two or maybe four times a week as they try to build demand and go to daily. That's crucial.
We talk a lot about airline profitability. I won't say it in front of the committee here, but sometimes the margins on what airlines make per passenger can be quite shockingly low. If the penalty regime is too high, it can wipe out months of profitability in a single flight.
Again, I'm not against it, but I do think it needs to be carefully, carefully assessed. What is the impact on air service in rural communities? Furthermore, is it a disincentive to travel? Also keep in mind that any costs borne by the airlines will ultimately be handed on in some shape or form to consumers.