http://www.canada.com/travel/Lack+co...365/story.html

Lack of competition keeps air fares sky-high

Ottawa talks a good game on open skies but the real test is in air fares

With multiple flights cancelled in Europe recently due to a nasty cold wave, this might not be the ideal time to praise European airline travel. But momentary troubles aside, Europe not only has better architecture than much of North America, it also has cheaper plane fares to get you to Europe's sights.

Europe's cheap air fares are in distinct contrast to North America where a competitive market in air travel has yet to take flight. North American governments, including our own, preach a good game on open skies; in reality, they prefer domestic duopolies.

It's why, as you perhaps sit in your plane seat reading this, an "American" airline can't pick you up in Calgary and deposit you in Toronto? It's why a "Canadian" airline cannot shuttle U.S. passengers from Los Angeles to New York - this as if there was any practical difference between airlines owned by shareholders from across the planet.