WestJet CEO on what can be done to cut airfare costs for travellers | Power Play with Vassy Kapelos

WestJet CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech speaks about the high costs of air travel and what can be done to bring down prices for travellers.
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[@ooohalberto]

The federal government is overcharging the fees. This wouldn’t be so bad if the fees actually went into infrastructure, but a decent chunk of the fees go into general revenue of the government.

[@ArenAurelius]

Cut airfare cost, Cut Internet provider cost, Cut grocery cost, Cut gas cost.

[@Guitarooster52]

Through taxes we pay for federal infrastructure then we pay gin with fees that are essentially another federal tax. Then we pay a higher airfare because we have to pay for carbon taxes on the fuel. Can you imagine how much of our income is going to the federal government. What the hell are they actually doing with all this revenue?

[@Arkhanno]

If you can afford a flight you can afford $0.20/L, which is the federal carbon price on fuel, which you get back in rebates every 3 months.

[@tamrahawkes3170]

Filling their pockets!

[@tamrahawkes3170]

@@Arkhannono we don’t!

[@jayshahu]

Government serves a purpose but it can't insert itself into everything That model is not viable in the long run .

[@DL-ds7xp]

So jealous of Americans and Europeans when it comes to travel

[@matthewclark2341]

So one of there recommendations is to pay for overhead cargo space for carry one. Airfare in Canada sucks

[@MikeSmith-vo2yt]

Staycations save big on airfare

[@user-eo1vz9lt8g]

no doors bolted on cuts costs...

[@vask9748]

Open Canadian skies to American carriers

[@acprive]

They brought it on themselves with the high baggage fees. Cut them and everyone will start checking bags again.

[@TomBrown-cq4vu]

Most of the tax on booze and smokes is from the govt too....cut the tax and it would be $ 10 a dozen for beer.

[@DustinG007]

Cut corporate welfare. It forces businesses to run a proper business. How many times did the Canadian taxpayer bail out Air Canada. We should fly for free.

[@tamrahawkes3170]

Trust the Liberals to be picking our pockets on every aspect of our lives. Including a once a year holiday!

[@Justin-yk3ox]

Awfully rich from one of canada's 2 major airlines to suggest ways to reduce cost, when they've colluded with the other major airline to limit competition in the east and west.

[@GrahamLT]

To be fair, this CEO was recently brought in from Europe. The company's findings and his recommendations are correct. Lowering the airport fees and taxes would allow more competition.

[@AliceEclipse]

CEO salary can be cut.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Let's all boycott airlines and grocery stores - then they will drop their prices ( or go out of business ) 😊

[@caseyspooner4048]

I got an easy fix try paying management less? maybe smaller payouts for shareholders? You know? At least until your companies are like actually profitable again?

[@joetran8798]

Sorry, but we're not "Europe". Our costs are different. Things might be cheaper on occasion there, but we also don't suffer the same number of strikes that they do there. We might get some delays, but we don't get paralyzed when a little bit of snow falls compared to the Europeans. Try apples to apples. Notice how the guy did not commit to cutting their fares beyond what the government cuts (and we'd have to see proof of that)...

[@GrahamLT]

Look at your airfare ticket price breakdown. Over 50% of a $200 ticket goes to gov't fees and taxes. This is squarely on the federal government to stop gouging Canadians. But of course we know that anything associated with carbon is considered a luxury by this government, and they will tax it to death.

[@flyzam71]

Another Canadian telling everyone we are different so we should pay through the nose for everything we do. Bloody enablers

[@MM-xg2td]

How about we stop subitizing WestJet and let in more airplane companies in Canada ?

[@antonizvekov1]

No airline company in the world would work in Canada because of the insane government fees we have.

[@JimMacintosh]

What’s an airplane company?

[@MM-xg2td]

@@JimMacintosh Airline....🙄

[@richardrogers7479]

TRYING CUTTING YOUR OWN SALARY AND ALL YOUR HIGH PRICED BELL HOPS.