The policy debate comes as airlines cope with a fuel-related cost shock and adjust capacity.
CBC News reports that fuel prices more than doubled compared to last year, prompting Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines and Air Transat to raise fares or impose surcharges.
Air Transat plans to cancel about 1,000 flights between May and October, while WestJet and Air Canada have also announced capacity reductions.
Locally, Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz told CTV News he expects airlines to cut or optimize their routes to remain profitable, but doesn’t anticipate a COVID-19-like drop in traffic.
He said discussions are underway with Ottawa about possible investments and suggested that “privatization” in Regina’s case could look more like a pension fund investment than a bank debt.