The Competition Bureau says it has obtained court orders requiring Air Canada and WestJet to hand over information for the watchdog’s market study into airline competition.
Granted by the Federal Court, the rulings require the country’s two biggest carriers to produce records and answer questions around barriers to entry into the field, performance metrics and agreements with airports and other airlines.
The bureau says the information will give it a better understanding of competition in the domestic airline sector, roughly 80 per cent of which is commanded by Air Canada and WestJet.
The court orders mark the first time the regulator has taken advantage of its new information-gathering powers, which took effect in June under federal legislation, in a market study.
In July, the Competition Bureau announced it would launch a market study of domestic airline service amid ongoing concerns around prices and quality.
The watchdog said the study would zero in on the state of competition among carriers, barriers to entry and growth in the market, and obstacles for travellers looking to make informed choices.
