Competition Bureau Warns Air Canada-United Deal (openjaw.com)
Canada's Competition Bureau warns that expanding the Air Canada-United joint venture would likely create near-monopoly conditions on ten transborder routes. The agency estimates millions in annual consumer harm from higher fares if the carriers coordinate on lanes including Toronto-Denver and Vancouver-San Francisco. Transport Minister must decide on the proposal before the public consultation closes November 15, 2026.
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Worth remembering the Bureau's report is advisory here: the transport minister runs the public interest review, and in 2023 Ottawa approved WestJet's purchase of Sunwing with conditions even after the Commissioner said WestJet's proposed remedies didn't address concerns on 31 sun routes ([1]). So the real question is whether these 10 routes get route-specific conditions or the 2012 carve-outs are simply lifted.
[1] canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2023…