Air Transportation

Question period focused on air travel costs and the government’s review of major airports. Conservative members asked whether the transport minister’s approach would raise ticket prices, citing his weekend comments about airport privatization and partially regulated fees, and pressed him to say whether flying would stay affordable for families. The Liberal minister responded that fees currently charged through airfares for airport improvements are unregulated and said the government intends to regulate those fees.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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3 statements

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“Extra fees on plane tickets are making flights too expensive. Airports are charging travellers for upgrades, and no rules stop them. We plan to set rules to control these fees.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we intend to regulate those fees that show up on airfare tickets that cause prices to spike. In fact, those fees are going up as we speak. As airport facilities get improved, capital investments get made and those costs get passed on to travellers in the form of airport improvement charges. They are unregulated today. We intend to regulate them.

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“I already answered the question. These fees are not regulated right now, and we plan to regulate them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know the member’s leader writes the questions, but he really should listen to the answer and kind of make an adjustment after he hears the first answer. I just told him those fees are currently unregulated. We intend to regulate them.

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“Airlines already charge fees to pay for airport upgrades, and these fees are not regulated right now. We plan to put rules in place to regulate them.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as part of the ongoing process, we have discovered that there are indeed fees in the current system, including funds for airport infrastructure improvements, that are recouped through airfares, prices and flat rates. This is not currently regulated. We fully intend to subject these types of fees to regulation.

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