Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Even more so than most things in life, peoples' stated preferences around flying are not the same as their revealed preferences. The margins of airlines are very small, and the biggest factor in consumer choice is price. We have the service (or lack of) in the air industry because most people are looking for the cheapest and most convenient flight.
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I don't disagree with this in general, but I posit that this phenomenon is a global one. However, Airline pricing is especially egregious in Canada because of (and the same margin that enables better service is eaten by) the airport authorities and the massive back breaking fees they charge. The Edmonton airport is the one that's always killing me- it really shouldn't exist, and is always trying to attract more international routes. To do this, it spends tons of money on weird ass things like Hydrogen cars. That money is recouped by increasing fees on flights which are passed on to consumers.
The airports all have disproportionate control over the airspace. There's no competition allowed.