The future of the Canadian Aviation Market: An in-depth review
Canadian airlines continue to carve out their positions in the marketplace. The country's major operators will continue to preserve their position, but the fate of the country's smaller airlines is less certain. In this session, local industry experts and thought leaders will analyze key factors influencing the Canadian aviation market, including state of the market, regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and shifting consumer demands.
Although more competitors have entered Canada's domestic market during the past three to four years, Air Canada and WestJet have both maintained their leading positions in Canada.
Air Canada has joined other North American global network airlines in experiencing strong trans Atlantic demand - particularly in the summer high season in the Northern Hemisphere. The airline has also entered into a partnership with Emirates to broaden its network depth, and has expanded on its own metal into the Indian market.
WestJet has decided to shutter its ultra-low cost subsidiary Swoop and to fold that airline's operations back into the mainline. The company, which has also acquired Sunwing, is folding Sunwing's Boeing 737s into the WestJet brand.
The big question mark for Canada is whether all the start-up ultra-low cost carriers will have staying power. Lynx Air, which was headquartered in WestJet's hometown market of Calgary ceased operations in 2024, while Flair Airlines is based in another WestJet stronghold of Edmonton.
- What impact does the current consolidation/mergers & agreements occurring in Canada have on the market?
- What do international travel demands look like both to and from Canada?
- What will the market look like in 5 years?
- How can airports aid in boosting the market for local airlines?
Moderator: University of Winnipeg, Professor, David Duval
Panel:
Edmonton Airport, Vice President Air Service & Business Development, James Jackson
IATA, Regional VP Americas, Peter Cerda
Global Crossing, President & CFO, Ryan Goepel