Transport Committee on June 13th, 2024

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I think it would really benefit this study to understand that in greater detail. I understand from Mr. Bijimine, who was with us earlier at this meeting, that Transport Canada is looking at the U.S. example, but it would really help us with our recommendations if we understood in greater detail how that program works.

Therefore, if it's in order as an emerging motion, Mr. Chair, I will move that the committee invite a representative from the U.S. Department of Transportation to appear as a witness as part of this current study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bachrach.

Is there any disagreement on that? Perhaps we can do that with unanimous consent.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you very much, Mr. Bachrach.

You have one minute left if you have other questions you'd like to ask. Otherwise, we can adjourn. It's up to you.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Maybe I'll ask Ms. Pasher about affordability, because often what we hear from the airports is the need for government investment in infrastructure, and I certainly understand those concerns.

This committee has supported a recommendation to reinvest the rent that airports currently pay to the federal government into airport infrastructure to help make their operations more viable and more sustainable. However, the question in my mind is how those investments get passed along to passengers in terms of greater affordability. My experience in a rural region is that when a carrier has a monopoly, they seem to charge passengers pretty much the maximum people are willing to pay for the flights.

How do we ensure that when we invest in airports and reduce the cost of operation for airlines, those savings get passed along to customers through more affordable airfares?

[Monette Pasher]

In a user-pay model, these user fees are a flow-through on the ticket. If it wasn't there, then it wouldn't flow through to the ticket, and the airline wouldn't need to charge it.

However, I think ultimately what you're talking about is affordability of air travel broadly. Really, our view is that the best way to have lower airfares for consumers is to have competition. We've seen with WestJet, Porter and Flair that head-to-head competition drives down fares. I think the good news is that we have Porter on the scene and growing, with nearly 80 planes expected in their fleet by 2025, so it's much-welcomed competition.

We as policy-makers need to make sure we have the right environment for Canada and for the aviation ecosystem in order to compete. I think the more we reduce costs and burden on this system, the more affordable it will be for Canadians to fly and the better that will be for rural and remote communities as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Ms. Pasher, and thank you, Mr. Bachrach.

That concludes our meeting for today. I'd like to thank our witnesses for appearing before us.

This meeting is adjourned.