Competition Bureau launches study into Canadian airline industry [Video]

The federal Competition Bureau is launching a market study into the Canadian airline industry with the goal of improving the cost and quality of air travel.

The bureau announced this week it will look into three key issues including the state of competition in the industry, barriers to entry and “impediments to Canadians making informed choices” on air travel.

Anthony Durocher, deputy commissioner of the Competition Promotion Branch says his team is conducting a deep dive into competition issues after announcing its study in late May and accepting more than 1,400 submissions on its scope until mid-June.

“We know it’s important for consumers, we know it’s important for the Canadian economy and, you know, there are four factors that inform this in particular, one of which we know is a concentrated sector, with Air Canada and WestJet having the lion’s share of the market,” Durocher said.

“Number two, we’ve seen …