Canada - Head of group that represents airlines slams high taxes in Canada

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/head-of-group-that-represents-airlines-urges-ottawa-to-help-aviation-industry-141615803.html

MONTREAL - The head of the association that represents most of the world's air carriers has slammed the high taxes the Canadian government imposes on its airline industry.

The advantages that Canada does have "cannot compensate for government policies that treat aviation like a cash cow, instead of a powerful draught horse," Tony Tyler, CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said Tuesday.

Tyler used a speech to an international relations group to call on policy-makers to improve the competitiveness of the aviation sector — including reducing the heavy tax burden.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/head-of-group-that-represents-airlines-urges-ottawa-to-help-aviation-industry-141615803.html

MONTREAL - The head of the association that represents most of the world's air carriers has slammed the high taxes the Canadian government imposes on its airline industry.

The advantages that Canada does have "cannot compensate for government policies that treat aviation like a cash cow, instead of a powerful draught horse," Tony Tyler, CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said Tuesday.

Tyler used a speech to an international relations group to call on policy-makers to improve the competitiveness of the aviation sector — including reducing the heavy tax burden.

That is why BUF is our departure airport for family vacation.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canadians-flocking-to-us-airports-in-search-of-cheap-fares/article2375888/

Meh.

I really can't get worked up about this. You have the head of a trade association pleading for tax breaks for the companies that pay his salary. :rolleyes:

The taxes that he mentions here are really quite minor - security fees and municipal taxes/fees paid by airports. As to Pearson paying $25 million in the latter, I wonder if that includes property taxes. At any rate, it doesn't seem so much given the airport's huge physical size and the number of passengers that pass through it.

From a passenger's perspective, the real problem isn't taxes - which amount to a really small percentage of the ticket price - but the lack of competition on most routes, which allows AC to have virtual monopoly pricing power. The longstanding use of misleading pricing policies (hello, fuel surcharge!) enters into this as well.

Savings flying out of BUF:

Park & Fly BUF $29/wk YYZ $69/wk. Sometime you can get hotel deals with Parking/Airport shuttle for around $90-110 near Walden Galleria which is great for early am flights.

No big US CBP lineup. (especially Monday morning. I am the only Nexus holder in family)

Redemption fee/tax saving of average $150/ticket. Family of 4 or extended family of 6; we do at least one family and one extended faimly trip with my parents every year. - you can crunch the number.

12 wings and a beer for $9.95 at BUF.

Park n Fly shuttle wait never >15 minutes.

Savings flying out of BUF:

Park & Fly BUF $29/wk YYZ $69/wk. Sometime you can get hotel deals with Parking/Airport shuttle for around $90-110 near Walden Galleria which is great for early am flights.

No big US CBP lineup. (especially Monday morning. I am the only Nexus holder in family)

Redemption fee/tax saving of average $150/ticket. Family of 4 or extended family of 6; we do at least one family and one extended faimly trip with my parents every year. - you can crunch the number.

12 wings and a beer for $9.95 at BUF.

Park n Fly shuttle wait never >15 minutes.
The pros and cons of this are well known. There are many more nonstops to locations in the US from YYZ than BUF - so be prepared. For destinations in Canada and overseas, BUF is really not in the picture. BUF has lots of traffic on Southwest and JetBlue for domestic travel that requires the fares of the other carriers to be competitive. Parking in the reduced rate lot can get you a spot right next to the terminal if you can find the tunnel in NW corner to the lot next to the terminal. The price is reasonable.If you want to drive an hour more, you can also consider ROC. One big saving is the US inspection fee, which only applies to air travelers so the land border saves you that.

The downside is the extra driving, the chance for really bad weather and border delays. We had the misfortune of traveling to BUF on the day that it was so windy that the skyways on the QEW were closed and amazingly so was the L-Q Bridge. Trucks were diverted to the Peace Bridge as the L-Q opened for cars and the signs said no wait at the Peace Bridge, but the traffic was backed up for miles on the QEW. I'd say NEXUS is a necessity for everyone in the car if BUF is your choice - the Whirlpool Bridge guarantees that you won't have a multihour delay.

The same thing works against Vancouver - driving 2.5 hrs to Seattle.

The only minus is that it's a bit early to get some of the early morning flights.

Savings can be as high as $300 a ticket for transborder destinations to the Eastern United States.