Travelling by air in Canada

The three main airlines in Canada are:

• Air Transat (mostly flights to/from Europe, Central America and the Caribbean)
• WestJet (domestic and international flights)
• Air Canada (domestic and international flights)

Westjet and Air Canada offer many options between Canadian cities and routes to the main US hubs as well. However, due to the lack of competition and other factors (high airport taxes, lack of international agreements with other carriers, lack of low-cost airlines, etc.), airfares in Canada remain quite pricey.

It is sometimes cheaper to fly to a nearby US airport, depending on your destination. You could get much better fares, even factoring in the extra transportation to a US airport.

Don’t forget it’s a seven-hour flight from Halifax (east coast) to Vancouver (West Coast)—yes, Canada is definitely a big country!

As with any other international airline, be sure to check what is included in your airfare (luggage, airport taxes, etc.) when comparing prices.