The policy debate comes as airlines manage a fuel-driven cost shock and adjust capacity.
CBC News reports that jet fuel prices have more than doubled compared with a year ago, prompting Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines and Air Transat to increase fares or add surcharges.
Air Transat plans to cut about 1,000 flights between May and October, while WestJet and Air Canada have also announced capacity reductions.
At a local level, Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz told CTV News he expects airlines to trim or tweak routes to stay profitable but does not foresee a collapse in traffic similar to COVID-19.
He said discussions with Ottawa about possible investment are under way and suggested that, in Regina’s case, “privatization” could look more like pension fund investment than bank debt.