If you ain’t got no money take your broke ass home!
– Ludakris
It’s always cheaper to fly from Vancouver to New York than to Toronto or Montreal. Interprovincial travel is so expensive, many Canadians fly abroad rather than exploring their own country. Meanwhile, cash-strapped tourists will look past Canada when planning that annual holiday.
The penny has finally dropped with the BC Chamber of Commerce that Canada’s sky-high airport taxes serve as a barrier to tourism.
However, federal fees are only one factor behind the cost difference with U.S. flights, she said. A less competitive airline market, the number of flights and number of seats also affect competition.
Speaking of the less-competitive market, Air Canada is about to start charging for that first checked bag… just because it can.
Will those extra fees go towards a few Magic Erasers, maybe clean the cabins on more than an annual basis? Recalibrate the IFE systems so that tapping the buttons produces an effect? Just a few suggestions.
The BC Chamber of Commerce wants the province to reassert itself as a top-tier global destination. (I was unaware that Whistler was facing staffing gaps: as long as Australia exists, I figured that that wouldn’t be an issue.)